Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Richmond West
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 Bin (Trash)
All garbage must be bagged before placing it in the green cart to prevent odors and litter. The lid must close completely. Place the cart at least 5 feet from mailboxes, trees, and parked cars.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and wrappers
- ✓Bagged yard clippings (small amounts)
- ✓Styrofoam
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do NOT bag your recyclables. All accepted items must be placed loosely into the blue cart. Ensure cardboard is flattened to save space, and containers are empty.
Accepted Items
- ✓Narrow-neck plastic bottles and jugs (#1 and #2)
- ✓Clean cardboard and paper products
- ✓Glass food and beverage bottles
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags of any kind
- ✕Pizza boxes (grease contamination)
- ✕Styrofoam and egg cartons
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wire hangers)
- ✕Batteries, electronics, and chemicals
Yard Waste Bin
Small clippings can be bagged and placed in the green trash cart. Larger piles must be scheduled as a bulky waste pickup (limbs cut under 5 feet) or taken to a TRC.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Tree branches
- ✓Palm fronds
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two scheduled pickups per calendar year
Placement
Place items at the curb no earlier than 3 days prior to your appointment and no later than 7:00 AM on the pickup day. Keep piles 10 feet from the street and 5 feet from mailboxes and cars.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses (MUST be encased in a plastic bag/sleeve and taped)
- ✓ Yard trash (limbs under 5 feet)
- ✓ Up to 3 cubic yards of construction/demolition debris (tiles, drywall)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paint, chemicals, motor oil)
- ✕ Contractor-generated landscaping or construction debris
- ✕ Tires (take these to a TRC)
- ✕ Unsealed mattresses
The two 25-cubic-yard pickups are included in your annual non-ad valorem solid waste fee. Exceeding this limit or placing unauthorized items may result in code enforcement citations or excess yardage fees.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Miami-Dade County DSWM collects garbage on all days EXCEPT Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Independence Day, and Christmas Day. If your normal garbage pickup falls on one of these closed holidays, your collection will be skipped and will resume on your next scheduled service day.
Yard Waste Exception
All TRC facilities and scheduled bulky waste pickups are also suspended on these three major holidays.
Recycling collection typically CONTINUES on its normal schedule even on these holidays. Garbage service operates completely as normal on all other holidays, including Thanksgiving, New Year's Day, and Labor Day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Never Bag Your Recyclables
The automated sorting machines in Miami-Dade cannot open plastic garbage bags. If you place your clean cans and paper inside a plastic bag in your blue cart, the entire bag is pulled off the belt and diverted to the landfill.
Look for the Narrow Neck
Miami-Dade County does not accept all plastics. Only narrow-neck plastic bottles and jugs marked with a #1 or #2 (like water bottles or laundry detergent containers) are allowed. Plastic clamshells, yogurt cups, and wide-mouth tubs belong in the green trash cart.
Clear the Airspace
When placing your green and blue bins, look up. Miami-Dade's automated trucks require at least a 15-foot vertical clearance. If your carts are placed directly beneath low-hanging tree branches or power lines, the mechanical arm cannot safely reach them.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June - NovemberIf a tropical storm or hurricane warning is issued for Miami-Dade County, all bulk waste pickups and TRC operations will be immediately suspended. Secure your green and blue carts indoors or in a garage, and never place debris at the curb as it can become a dangerous projectile.
Post-Holiday Cleanup
December - JanuaryAfter the holidays, foil wrapping paper, ribbons, and styrofoam must go in the green garbage cart. Real Christmas trees can be chopped into pieces and placed in the green cart, hauled to a TRC, or scheduled as part of a bulky waste pickup.
Spring Landscaping
March - MayIf you are utilizing your bulky waste pickup for heavy spring yard trimmings, remember that tree limbs must be cut to no more than five feet in length. Do not mix construction debris with yard waste in the same pile.
About Richmond West Waste Management
Miami-Dade County Services in Richmond West
Because Richmond West is a census-designated place in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, residential waste is managed directly by the county's Department of Solid Waste Management (DSWM). Homeowners receive automated collection using two designated roll carts: a green cart for household garbage, which is picked up twice a week, and a blue cart for recycling, collected every other week. To ensure a successful pickup, carts must be wheeled to the curb by 7:00 AM on service days, with the wheels facing your home.
Maximizing Massive Bulk Waste Allowances
Miami-Dade County offers one of the most generous bulk waste programs in Florida. Richmond West residents who pay the non-ad valorem waste fee receive two free scheduled bulk pickups every calendar year. Each pickup allows up to 25 cubic yards of debris (roughly the size of a one-car garage filled halfway). If you are tackling a major clean-out, you can officially request to combine both allowances into a massive 50-cubic-yard single collection by calling 311 or using the online portal.
Utilizing Nearby Trash and Recycling Centers (TRCs)
If you exhaust your annual bulk limits or just want immediate disposal of yard clippings and cardboard, Richmond West residents have access to 13 regional TRCs. The closest facilities are the South Miami Heights TRC on SW 117th Court and the Richmond Heights TRC on Boggs Drive. You can drop off up to 3 cubic yards of construction debris, tires, and white goods per day. Remember, standard kitchen food waste is strictly prohibited at TRC drop-offs.
Strict Regulations for Curbside Mattresses
To combat the spread of pests like bed bugs and protect sanitation workers, Miami-Dade County strictly enforces public health ordinances regarding mattress disposal. If you set out a mattress or box spring for your scheduled bulk pickup in Richmond West, it must be completely encased in a plastic mattress bag or sleeve and sealed shut with heavy-duty tape. Unsealed mattresses are considered a health hazard and will be left behind, potentially resulting in a code enforcement fine.
Drop-off Facilities
South Miami Heights Trash and Recycling Center
20800 SW 117th Court, Miami, FL 33177
Materials Accepted
Richmond Heights Trash and Recycling Center
14050 Boggs Drive, Miami, FL 33176
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Richmond West serviced by a private city hauler?
No. Richmond West is a census-designated place within unincorporated Miami-Dade County, meaning residential waste is serviced directly by the Miami-Dade County Department of Solid Waste Management.
Does my trash get picked up on Thanksgiving or New Year's Day?
Yes! Miami-Dade County only suspends garbage collection on three holidays: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Independence Day, and Christmas Day. Garbage service operates normally on Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.
Can I throw out construction and demolition debris?
Yes, but in limited quantities. You can include up to 3 cubic yards of construction and demolition (C&D) debris in a scheduled bulky waste pickup, or you can drop off up to 3 cubic yards of C&D per day at a local Trash and Recycling Center (TRC).
What is the requirement for throwing away a mattress?
If you schedule a mattress for a bulky waste pickup, it must be completely encased in a plastic bag or sleeve and sealed shut with heavy-duty tape. This protects workers from bed bugs. Unsealed mattresses will not be collected.