Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Riviera Beach
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.
Standard Garbage Carts or Personal Cans Bin (Trash)
Garbage is collected twice a week. Ensure all trash is securely bagged and placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. Keep cans clear of mailboxes and parked cars.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste and wrappers
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam products
Yellow Bin (Paper) and Blue Bin (Containers) Bin (Recycling)
Sort items correctly into the SWA-provided dual bins. Never bag your recyclables in plastic liners. Flatten all cardboard.
Accepted Items
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and paper (Yellow Bin)
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs (Blue Bin)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (Blue Bin)
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans (Blue Bin)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Pizza boxes with grease
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Household garbage
Yard Waste Bin
Loose leaves and grass clippings MUST be placed in bags. Do not mix yard waste with standard bulk trash, as vegetation has a different overage fee structure.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cut tree limbs
- ✓Palm fronds
- ✓Bushes and twigs
- ✓Bagged leaves and grass clippings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Scheduled alongside regular service (Varies by zone)
Placement
Place items securely at the curb. Debris in excess of 6 cubic yards cannot simply be left out; you must call GCI at 561-444-3442 to proactively schedule a custom pickup.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Minor containerized DIY home repair debris (under 50 lbs per container)
- ✓ Large toys
Not Accepted
- ✕ Tires and auto/boat parts
- ✕ Empty gas tanks, barrels, and drums
- ✕ Shed demolition debris or full fencing sections
- ✕ Major construction and demolition (C&D) debris
Non-compliant bulk waste or volumes over 2 cubic yards will result in a $22 per cubic yard charge added directly to your city utility bill. Sheds and fencing require an additional quoted cost from GCI.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
In alignment with most Palm Beach County schedules, garbage and recycling services operate normally on most minor holidays. Collections are only suspended on major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, with service shifting to your next regularly scheduled pickup day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and bulk trash follow the identical holiday delay protocol as regular household garbage.
Always check the City of Riviera Beach website or contact GCI directly during holiday weeks for any unexpected route changes or municipal office closures.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Bin
Never use plastic grocery bags to hold your recyclables. Soft plastics cause massive tangles in the SWA sorting facility's gears. Return plastic bags to your local supermarket's drop-off box instead.
Do Not Mix C&D with Regular Bulk
If you are doing minor home repairs, small pieces of construction and demolition (C&D) debris like tile or roofing material must be containerized and weigh no more than 50 pounds. Mixing heavy loose C&D with regular furniture may result in collection refusal or heavy overage fees.
Keep Paper Dry in the Yellow Bin
The dual-bin system relies on keeping paper products pristine. Do not put bottles with residual liquids into the yellow bin, as the moisture will ruin the cardboard and paper, rendering the entire bin unrecyclable.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June to NovemberRemove dead, diseased, or weak branches well before a storm approaches. Once a tropical storm or hurricane watch is issued for Palm Beach County, cease all major pruning and do not place bulk debris at the curb.
Rainy Season
May to OctoberFrequent afternoon thunderstorms can easily waterlog paper lawn bags and cardboard boxes. Put your yellow recycling bin out on the morning of collection rather than the night before to prevent the paper from turning to mush in the rain.
Winter Holidays
DecemberWith the increase in online shopping, ensure all shipping boxes are broken down flat so they fit inside or underneath your yellow recycling bin. Excessively large boxes may not be collected if left unflattened on the grass.
About Riviera Beach Waste Management
Contracted Waste Management via GCI
While Riviera Beach is located within Palm Beach County, the city independently manages its residential trash collection through a contract with The Goode Companies, Inc. (GCI). Under this arrangement, single-family homes receive reliable twice-a-week garbage collection. It is crucial to keep bicycles, toys, and other personal items away from the curb on collection days, as sanitation workers move quickly and may mistake them for discarded items.
Strict Bulk Trash Limits and Potential Overage Fees
Riviera Beach enforces strict volume limits on large debris to keep neighborhoods clean and costs controlled. Residents are allowed a maximum of three bulk items or two cubic yards per service pickup at no extra charge. If you exceed this limit or place non-compliant debris at the curb, GCI will still clear it, but a fee of $22 per cubic yard for bulk items (or $8 per cubic yard for vegetation) will be automatically billed to your municipal utility account.
Participating in the SWA Dual-Bin Recycling Program
Although GCI hauls the garbage, Riviera Beach residents participate in the Solid Waste Authority (SWA) of Palm Beach County's dual-stream recycling program. You will use a yellow bin for clean paper and cardboard, and a blue bin for plastic bottles, glass, and cans. By separating these materials at the curb, the county’s material recovery facility operates far more efficiently. Broken or missing bins can be re-ordered directly through the SWA.
Proper Preparation for Yard Waste and Landscaping Debris
Florida's tropical climate means constant yard maintenance. When preparing yard waste for collection in Riviera Beach, simply tossing grass clippings onto the swale is prohibited. All loose leaves and grass clippings must be neatly placed in a bag. Palm fronds, branches, and cut limbs must be properly stacked. Improperly managed vegetation piles risk being tagged and billed at the $8 per cubic yard overage rate.
Adhering to Hurricane Pruning and Land Development Codes
Preparing your trees for hurricane season is vital, but Riviera Beach has specific environmental codes regarding how it should be done. The city prohibits destructive pruning practices such as 'topping,' 'hat-racking,' 'lion-tailing,' or shaping trees into unnatural forms. These practices violate the City's Land Development Code because they actually weaken the tree, making it much more susceptible to breaking and causing property damage during high winds.
Drop-off Facilities
SWA North County Transfer Station
14185 N Military Trl, Jupiter, FL 33410
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides garbage collection services for Riviera Beach?
The City of Riviera Beach manages its residential solid waste through a franchise contract with The Goode Companies, Inc. (GCI). They handle twice-weekly garbage, bulk waste, and yard debris pickups.
How do I get new recycling bins in Riviera Beach?
Because Riviera Beach participates in the Palm Beach County dual-stream program, all recycling bins are distributed by the Solid Waste Authority (SWA), not the city. You can order replacement yellow or blue bins by calling 866-NEW-BINS or visiting the SWA website.
What happens if I put too much bulk trash at the curb?
You are allowed up to three bulk items or two cubic yards per pickup for free. If you place a larger pile, GCI will collect it but charge the city a fee of $22 per cubic yard, which the city will then add to your monthly utility bill. For massive piles exceeding 6 cubic yards, you must call GCI directly to schedule the pickup.
Do I have to bag my grass clippings and leaves?
Yes, Riviera Beach city guidelines explicitly state that all loose leaves and grass clippings must be placed in a bag for collection. Loose vegetation left scattered on the swale will not be collected.