Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Port St. John
Florida residential routes generally operate Monday through Friday. Your specific household collection depends on your local county zoning map.
State Mandate
Do not mix yard trimmings with regular household garbage.
Green (or Green with Green Lid) Bin (Trash)
All trash must be securely bagged inside the cart. The lid must close completely. Carts must be at the curb by 6:00 a.m. with the wheels facing your house and spaced at least 3 feet from other objects.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food wrappers
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Textiles (if not donated)
Green with Yellow Lid Bin (Recycling)
Items must be empty, clean, and placed loosely inside the cart. Do NOT bag your recyclables. Bagged recyclables will be flagged as contamination and treated as regular trash.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Newspapers and mixed paper
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Soiled pizza boxes
- ✕Batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste is NOT accepted in plastic bags. It must be placed in a personal container (under 40 gallons and 50 lbs) or bundled. Branches must be cut to 4 feet or less in length.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Palm fronds
- ✓Small twigs
- ✓Branches (under 4 feet long)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By Request / Varying Routes
Placement
Stack items neatly at the curb, separated by type. Keep away from low-hanging wires, mailboxes, and water meters. Appliances are collected by a separate truck within 48 hours of your scheduled day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large appliances (White goods)
- ✓ Couches
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction materials
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Automotive parts
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals
- ✕ Fencing
Standard bulk items are included in your service, but excessive amounts, whole home clean-outs, or construction debris may incur an extra fee from Waste Management.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled collection day falls on an observed holiday, garbage and yard waste will be collected on your next regularly scheduled service day. Recycling will be serviced on the next business day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the same delayed schedule as regular household garbage.
New Year's Day does NOT impact service schedules in unincorporated Brevard County. Pickups happen as normal.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of Recycling
The most common recycling contaminant in Brevard County is the plastic grocery bag. These bags tangle in the sorting machinery at the processing facility. Return them to local Publix or Winn-Dixie stores instead.
Don't Hide Yard Debris in Trash Carts
Vegetative waste like palm fronds and grass clippings cannot go into your regular garbage cart or recycling bin. Brevard County requires strict separation to divert organic material away from the Central Disposal Facility.
Rinse Your Space Coast Seafood Containers
Ensure that any recyclable food containers, especially those holding seafood, meats, or sticky liquids, are rinsed thoroughly. Leftover food residue contaminates the entire load and attracts pests to your cart.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June to NovemberSecure your WM carts inside a garage or shed when a tropical storm or hurricane warning is issued. High winds can turn empty 96-gallon carts into dangerous projectiles.
Summer
May to SeptemberFrequent afternoon thunderstorms can soak unlidded cardboard boxes. Ensure the lid to your recycling cart is firmly closed to keep paper and cardboard dry, as wet cardboard cannot be effectively recycled.
Winter / Holidays
November to JanuaryAfter Thanksgiving and Christmas, extra cardboard can be taken to the Port St. John Community Center drop-off. Remember that string lights, ribbons, and foil wrapping paper are not recyclable in your curbside cart.
About Port St. John Waste Management
Unincorporated Brevard Waste Services
Because Port St. John is an unincorporated community in Brevard County, residential waste collection is managed through the county's franchise agreement with Waste Management (WM). Every household is provided with specialized rolling carts for household garbage and recycling. These automated carts allow for safer, faster collection along the busy Space Coast corridors.
Protecting the Indian River Lagoon
Proper yard waste disposal is critical in Port St. John to protect the nearby Indian River Lagoon. Residents are strictly prohibited from blowing grass clippings, leaves, or branches into storm drains or stacking yard debris over water meters and fire hydrants. Nutrient runoff from yard waste is a leading cause of algal blooms, so all vegetative debris must be properly containerized or bundled for WM pickup.
Community Drop-Off at Corto Road
If your curbside recycling cart gets full, Port St. John residents have a convenient local drop-off option. The Port St. John Community Center at 6650 Corto Road hosts public dumpsters specifically for flattened, dry cardboard and single-stream recycling. This is an excellent resource during the holidays or after a move when cardboard boxes exceed cart capacity.
Hurricane and Storm Debris Protocols
During Florida's active hurricane season, standard collection rules often shift. If a major storm hits Brevard County, residents must separate disaster debris into distinct piles at the curb—vegetative debris, construction materials, and standard trash. Normal yard waste rules (like size limits) are temporarily waived, but mixing household garbage with storm debris will cause contractors to bypass your property completely.
Drop-off Facilities
Port St. John Community Center Drop-Off
6650 Corto Road, Port St. John, FL
Materials Accepted
Central Disposal Facility & HHW
2250 Adamson Road, Cocoa, FL 32926
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put yard waste in plastic bags in Port St. John?
No. Brevard County explicitly prohibits the use of plastic bags for yard waste. All leaves, grass clippings, and small twigs must be placed in a reusable plastic or metal container (under 40 gallons) or securely bundled.
How do I dispose of old paint and chemicals?
Household hazardous waste cannot be thrown in your WM curbside carts. Port St. John residents should take these items, including paint, pool chemicals, and used motor oil, to the Central Disposal Facility in Cocoa, which accepts them safely at no cost.
Does my trash get picked up on New Year's Day?
Yes. Waste Management in Brevard County does not observe New Year's Day as a service delay holiday. Your trash, recycling, and yard waste will be picked up on your normally scheduled day.
How do I get rid of an old refrigerator?
Large appliances, known as 'white goods', are recyclable in Brevard County. Simply schedule a bulk pickup with Waste Management. Place the appliance at the curb, and a specialized truck will collect it within 48 hours of your designated bulk day.