Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Princeton
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 Cart Bin (Trash)
Bag all household garbage and small yard waste before placing it in the green cart. Place the cart within 3 feet of the street and at least 5 feet from mailboxes or cars by 7 a.m. on pickup day. Wheels must face your home.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Bagged grass clippings
- ✓Bagged leaves and small yard trimmings
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables; place them loose in the blue cart. Keep the cart lid completely closed to prevent windblown litter.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cleaned aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs (#1 and #2)
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, and junk mail
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Office paper and cereal boxes
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Glass bottles (often rejected; verify local zone rules)
- ✕Food-contaminated pizza boxes
- ✕Batteries and electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Small yard clippings must be bagged and placed inside the green waste cart. Larger tree cuttings (up to 5 feet) require scheduling a bulky waste pickup or a trip to the Moody Drive Trash and Recycling Center.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings (bagged)
- ✓Leaves (bagged)
- ✓Small twigs (bagged)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
2 pickups per calendar year (up to 25 cubic yards each)
Placement
Place items curbside no earlier than 3 days prior and no later than 7 a.m. on the day of your appointment. Keep piles away from trees, parked cars, and low-hanging wires.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and rolled carpets
- ✓ Mattresses (MUST be completely sealed in a plastic bag/sleeve)
- ✓ Large tree limbs (up to 5 feet long)
- ✓ Appliances (refrigerators, washers, etc.)
- ✓ Wooden fencing (up to 3 cubic yards)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Contractor generated debris
- ✕ Automobile parts and tires
- ✕ Hazardous waste and paint
- ✕ Dirt, rock, or concrete
- ✕ Tree removal/land clearing debris
The two annual pickups are included in your tax bill. Exceeding your cubic yard limit, setting out unbagged mattresses, or placing items without an appointment can result in a $100 civil violation fine or overage fees.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Waste collection is only suspended on these three specific holidays. For all other holidays, including Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, regular collection occurs as usual.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste is treated as regular garbage and follows the exact same holiday schedule.
If your regular service day falls on MLK Jr. Day, July 4th, or Christmas Day, your collection will resume on your next regularly scheduled pickup day (e.g., if Monday is skipped, you wait until Thursday).
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Bin
Never throw your recyclables into plastic grocery bags. The flexible plastic wraps around the sorting gears at the Miami-Dade recycling facility, causing dangerous and expensive machine jams. Take empty bags back to the grocery store.
Tear the Pizza Box
While a clean cardboard pizza box is highly recyclable, the greasy bottom half is not. Tear the box apart—toss the soiled half in your green trash cart and place the clean lid in your blue recycling cart.
No 'Tanglers' Allowed
When in doubt, throw it out. Placing items like garden hoses, holiday lights, or extension cords into the blue bin will result in a tagged cart from DSWM enforcement officers, as these items destroy processing equipment.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June - NovemberDuring a tropical storm or hurricane watch, suspend all yard trimming and do not place bulky waste at the curb. High winds can turn loose debris and empty bins into dangerous projectiles. Secure your green and blue carts indoors.
Post-Holiday Cleanup
JanuaryDo not place whole Christmas trees inside your green cart. Instead, take advantage of the county's specialized Christmas tree recycling drop-offs at nearby TRCs, or schedule a bulky waste pickup using your annual allotment.
Spring Cleaning
March - MaySpring is the busiest time for the county's bulky appointment system. Schedule your 25-cubic-yard pickup well in advance via the MDC Solid Waste app, as wait times can increase significantly during these months.
About Princeton Waste Management
Automated Waste Collection in Unincorporated Princeton
Because Princeton is an unincorporated census-designated place (CDP) in South Dade, residential trash and recycling services are managed directly by the Miami-Dade County Department of Solid Waste Management (DSWM). Most single-family homes receive twice-weekly automated garbage collection using standard green waste carts. A unique aspect of the Miami-Dade system is that residents must bag their yard waste—like grass clippings and small leaves—and place them directly inside the green garbage cart alongside regular household trash, eliminating the need for a separate curbside yard waste pile for minor trimmings.
Navigating the Mattress Sealing Rule
If you are replacing a bed in Princeton, you must comply with Miami-Dade County's strict mattress disposal laws, designed to protect sanitation workers from bedbug exposure. Any mattress placed at the curb for a scheduled bulky waste pickup must be completely sealed inside a plastic mattress bag or sleeve and secured with weather-resistant packing or duct tape. While the mattress requires this protective seal, the box spring can remain unbagged. Unsealed mattresses will be left behind and can incur a $100 fine.
Maximizing Your Annual Bulky Appointments
Residents of Princeton don't have to wait for an annual neighborhood cleanup day to clear out large debris. The county utilizes an on-demand appointment system where each household receives two free bulky waste pickups per calendar year, allowing up to 25 cubic yards per pickup. If you are doing a massive garage cleanout or major landscaping overhaul, you have the option to combine both allotments into a single 50-cubic-yard pickup. However, all collections must be pre-scheduled by calling 311, using the MDC Solid Waste app, or booking online.
Accessing the South Dade TRC and Chemical Centers
For times when you exceed your bulky waste limit or need immediate disposal, Princeton residents are conveniently located near the Moody Drive Trash and Recycling Center (12970 SW 268th St, Homestead). Open daily from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., this facility allows residents to drop off large appliances, yard debris, and up to four tires. For hazardous materials like paint, motor oil, and pool chemicals, residents must utilize the South Dade Home Chemical Collection Center located at 3707 S.W. 97th Ave, Gate B, which operates Wednesday through Sunday.
Drop-off Facilities
Moody Drive Trash and Recycling Center
12970 SW 268th St, Homestead, FL 33032
Materials Accepted
South Dade Home Chemical Collection Center
3707 S.W. 97th Ave., Gate B, Miami, FL
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule a bulky waste pickup in Princeton?
Since Princeton is serviced by Miami-Dade County, you can schedule your bulk pickup by calling 311, dialing 305-468-5900, using the MDC Solid Waste app, or booking via the county's online Bulky Appointment System. You are allotted two 25-cubic-yard pickups per year.
Why wasn't my mattress collected during bulk pickup?
Miami-Dade County requires that all mattresses placed at the curb be fully encased in a plastic mattress bag or sleeve and sealed shut with weather-resistant tape to prevent the spread of bedbugs. Unsealed mattresses will not be collected and may result in a fine.
Where should I put my grass clippings and yard waste?
Unlike some cities with separate yard waste programs, Miami-Dade requires you to bag your grass clippings, leaves, and small yard trimmings and place them directly into your green garbage cart alongside your regular household trash.
Will my garbage be picked up on Thanksgiving Day in Princeton?
Yes. The Miami-Dade County Department of Solid Waste Management only suspends service on three holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Independence Day (July 4th), and Christmas Day. On Thanksgiving, New Year's Day, and all other holidays, service operates normally.