Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Sanford
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.
Resident-provided watertight bins or bags Bin (Trash)
Residents must provide their own 40-gallon watertight receptacles or heavy-duty 40-gallon garbage bags. An unlimited amount may be placed at the curb. No individual bag or can may weigh more than 50 pounds. Items must be curbside by 7:00 a.m. on collection days.
Accepted Items
- ✓Mixed household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Standard domestic refuse
City-issued Recycle Bin Bin (Recycling)
Place recyclables loosely in the bin. All containers must be rinsed out, and importantly, all lids must be discarded in the regular garbage. Ensure items are curbside by 7:00 a.m..
Accepted Items
- ✓Pasteboard (cereal, shoe, tissue, and clean pizza boxes)
- ✓Brown paper grocery bags
- ✓Flattened and cut corrugated cardboard
- ✓Plastics #1-7
- ✓Clear, green, and brown glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel/tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags of any kind
- ✕Wax-coated paper or wet-strength materials
- ✕Lids from bottles and jars
- ✕Hazardous household waste
- ✕Styrofoam
Yard Waste Bin
Collected once weekly. Yard waste must never be placed in plastic bags. It must be placed in personal bins, paper lawn bags, or tied into bundles. Do not mix vegetative waste with household garbage or construction debris.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Palm fronds
- ✓Tree branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Biannually for free (April/October) or On-Demand for a fee.
Placement
All bulk items must be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m.. Ensure the pile is free from obstructions like mailboxes, parked cars, or low-hanging branches.
Accepted
- ✓ Large furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Excessive yard waste that cannot be bundled
- ✓ Appliances (collected separately on Wednesdays)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (chargeable at different rates/requirements)
- ✕ Hazardous household waste
- ✕ Commercial waste
- ✕ Automotive batteries and tires
Bulk pickups requested outside of April or October will incur a fee based on volume (4 cubic yard minimum). Call 407-688-5089 for current pricing and to schedule the Thursday/Friday pickup.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
On these three major holidays, there is NO garbage or recycling collection. Garbage service will simply resume on your next regularly scheduled pickup day.
Yard Waste Exception
If your recycling pickup falls on one of these holidays, your designated make-up day will automatically be the Saturday of that holiday week. Bins must be out by 7:00 a.m.
There is NO interruption in service for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, or Veterans Day. Put your carts out normally on those holidays.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Toss the Lids Before Recycling
The City of Sanford has a specific rule for plastics and glass: while the bottles and jars are highly recyclable, you must completely remove and throw away the lids into the regular trash before tossing the containers into your recycling bin.
Ban on Plastic Bags for Yard Waste
Waste Pro will not collect yard debris if it is stuffed into plastic garbage bags. You must leave your grass clippings and leaves in distinct piles, use a dedicated personal yard waste can, or pack them tightly into biodegradable brown paper lawn bags.
Keep Pizza Boxes Clean and Paper Unwaxed
While pasteboard like cereal boxes and clean pizza boxes are accepted, the city strictly bans any wax-coated cardboard or 'wet-strength' paper bags from the recycling stream. If your brown paper grocery bag has a plastic liner or heavy wax coating, it must go in the trash.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June to NovemberIn the event of a severe tropical storm, residents must strictly separate storm debris into two distinct piles at the curb: Vegetative Debris (branches, logs, palm fronds) and Construction Debris (drywall, carpet, lumber). Never mix the piles, and never place debris over storm drains or against fire hydrants.
Free Bulk Cleanup Months
April and OctoberTake advantage of these two months to clear out your garage, attic, and overgrown landscaping. The city provides one free, pre-scheduled bulk pickup for materials that are too large to bag or bundle during these months, waiving the standard four-cubic-yard minimum fee.
Post-Holiday Tree Disposal
JanuaryLive Christmas trees are picked up on specific Wednesdays throughout January. Make sure all tinsel, lights, and ornaments are removed. Crucially, if your tree is taller than 8 feet, you must cut it in half before placing it at the curb.
About Sanford Waste Management
The Unlimited 40-Gallon Trash Allowance
Unlike many Florida municipalities that have shifted entirely to automated roll-cart systems with strict volume limits, the City of Sanford offers its residents exceptional flexibility. You are permitted to place an unlimited amount of mixed household garbage at the curb twice a week. The only strict requirement is that the waste must be contained in 40-gallon watertight receptacles (plastic, metal, or rubber) with tight-fitting lids, or tied up in 40-gallon heavy-duty garbage bags. Each individual container or bag must not exceed 50 pounds to protect the manual loading crews.
Biannual Free Bulk Cleanup Months
Managing large household waste in Sanford revolves around two critical months: April and October. During these designated clean-up windows, the city schedules one absolutely free special pickup per household for oversized bulk materials and excessive yard waste that cannot be bagged or bundled. If you miss these windows and need to schedule a bulk pickup during any other month, you will be subject to a chargeable fee with a mandatory four-cubic-yard minimum, collected on Thursdays or Fridays.
White Goods Wednesdays
Disposing of old appliances, often referred to as 'white goods', is highly convenient for Sanford residents. Appliances such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, and water heaters are collected completely free of charge every Wednesday. However, this is not an automatic route; you must proactively call the Public Works Solid Waste Department at 407-688-5089 prior to Wednesday to secure your spot on the collection list. Always remember to secure or remove appliance doors with duct tape for child safety.
The Unique Saturday Make-Up Rule
Sanford's holiday trash schedule operates differently than the standard 'push back a day' model. Because standard garbage is collected twice a week, if a major holiday like Christmas or New Year's Day falls on your designated pickup day, garbage service is simply skipped and resumes on your next regularly scheduled day. However, since recycling is only picked up once a week, missed recycling routes are specifically rescheduled for the Saturday of that holiday week. All carts must be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on that Saturday makeup day.
Drop-off Facilities
Seminole County Landfill & Transfer Station
1930 E. Osceola Road, Geneva, FL 32732
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Sanford have a limit on how much regular garbage I can throw away?
No, Sanford allows an unlimited amount of mixed household garbage per pickup. However, all trash must be contained inside 40-gallon watertight bins or heavy-duty 40-gallon bags, and no single container or bag can weigh more than 50 pounds.
How do I throw away an old refrigerator in Sanford?
The City of Sanford offers free appliance (white goods) pickup every Wednesday. However, you must call the Solid Waste Division at 407-688-5089 in advance to schedule the collection. Remember to secure or remove the doors with duct tape before placing it at the curb.
What happens if my trash day falls on Thanksgiving or Christmas?
Sanford observes Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If your normal trash day falls on one of these holidays, there is no collection, and your garbage will be picked up on your next normally scheduled day. If your recycling falls on the holiday, it will be picked up on the Saturday of that week.
Why didn't Waste Pro pick up my yard waste bags?
If you put your yard waste in plastic bags, or if the bundle weighs more than 50 pounds, the hauler will leave it behind. Sanford requires all vegetative debris to be left in loose piles, placed in dedicated yard waste bins, or packed in biodegradable paper bags.