Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for St. Cloud
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.
Maroon Bin (Trash)
All standard trash must go inside the maroon cart. Have bins at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on collection day. Carts must not be overfilled; the lid must close.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste and kitchen scraps
- ✓Glass bottles, jars, and broken ceramics
- ✓Plastic bags and retail wrappers
- ✓Styrofoam packaging
- ✓Hardback books
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Items must be loose in the blue cart, never bagged in plastic. Plastic bottle caps must be unscrewed and thrown in the maroon trash cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum, tin, and steel cans
- ✓Flattened cardboard and cereal boxes
- ✓Newspapers, inserts, and junk mail
- ✓Office paper and paper bags
- ✓Dairy and juice cartons
- ✓Plastic bottles (caps must be removed)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass of any kind
- ✕Plastic bags or garbage bags
- ✕Bottle caps
- ✕Food waste or pizza boxes
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
Use the green vegetative debris can. Do not mix yard waste with standard garbage or recyclables.
Accepted Items
- ✓Vegetative debris
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small branches and twigs
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By request via scheduled clam truck service.
Placement
Ensure bulk piles are placed completely clear of low-hanging tree branches, power lines, and parked vehicles so the clam truck can operate its loading arm safely.
Accepted
- ✓ Large furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Appliances
- ✓ Oversized household goods
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Automotive parts
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Liquid paint and chemicals
Call the Solid Waste Division at 407-957-7289 to schedule your pickup and confirm if your specific load incurs any special fees.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
The city collects standard residential trash on most minor holidays (like Labor Day and Veterans Day). However, on major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day, residential services are delayed or rescheduled.
Yard Waste Exception
Green can vegetative debris collection is often suspended or shifted entirely during major holiday weeks.
Clam truck service (bulk collection) and recycling collections are frequently canceled on holiday weeks. Always check the official website for that week's adjusted dates.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Remove Those Bottle Caps
Before you recycle your water or soda bottles, make sure to unscrew the plastic caps. The City of St. Cloud's recycling processor does not accept bottle caps, so they must be thrown in your maroon trash cart.
Glass Goes in the Garbage
It is easy to assume glass is universally recyclable, but St. Cloud does not accept glass in the blue carts. To avoid contaminating clean paper streams, throw all glass items directly into the maroon bin.
Never Bag Your Recyclables
Keep your cardboard, cans, and plastics loose. Plastic garbage bags act as 'tanglers' in the sorting facility, wrapping around gears and completely shutting down the recycling processing equipment.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June to NovemberIf a tropical storm or hurricane warning is issued for Osceola County, immediately cease placing vegetative debris or bulk items out for clam truck service, as high winds can turn these into dangerous projectiles.
Winter Holidays
November to JanuaryMajor holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas frequently suspend the blue recycling routes and clam truck bulk collections. Double-check the city's holiday schedule, as standard maroon cart pickups may also be delayed.
Spring Cleaning
March to MayAs you clear out the garage, remember that harsh chemicals, old pesticides, and electronics cannot go in the maroon cart. Take these items directly to the St. Cloud Transfer Station on Peghorn Way.
About St. Cloud Waste Management
The Three-Cart System in St. Cloud
The City of St. Cloud utilizes a highly organized, color-coded cart system to manage residential solid waste. Residents are issued a maroon cart for standard household garbage, a blue cart for mixed recyclables, and a green cart specifically designated for vegetative yard debris. All carts must be wheeled to the curb prior to 7:00 a.m. on your designated collection day to ensure they aren't missed by the automated routing trucks.
Important Rule: No Glass in the Blue Bin
A common point of confusion for new Central Florida residents is how to handle glass bottles and jars. In St. Cloud, the local recycling sorting facilities do not process glass. Therefore, all broken glass, wine bottles, and clear jars must be thrown away securely in your maroon garbage cart rather than the blue recycling bin. Placing glass in the recycling can contaminate an entire truckload of clean paper and plastic.
Scheduling Bulk Pickup with the Clam Truck
Unlike cities with open, scheduled bulk weeks, St. Cloud utilizes specialized heavy machinery known as the 'clam truck' for oversized items. If you have large appliances, mattresses, or bulky furniture that won't fit into the maroon cart, you must call the Solid Waste Division at 407-957-7289 to schedule a special clam truck pickup. Items must be placed away from overhead power lines, mailboxes, and parked cars so the mechanical arm can operate safely.
Working Through Minor Holidays
St. Cloud’s sanitation teams work through most federal holidays to minimize disruption for residents. While Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day will trigger route delays and office closures, the city operates standard residential curbside collections on minor holidays such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Veterans Day. The clam truck and transfer station also remain operational on these minor holidays.
Safe Disposal at the Peghorn Way Transfer Station
For hazardous materials that pose a fire risk to standard garbage trucks, residents have local access to the St. Cloud Transfer Station on Peghorn Way. Operated in conjunction with Osceola County, this drop-off site accepts dangerous household goods like lithium-ion batteries, old paint, pool chemicals, and used motor oil at no cost to residential households. Proper disposal here prevents toxic runoff into Florida's delicate waterways.
Drop-off Facilities
St. Cloud Transfer Station
2701 Peghorn Way, St. Cloud, FL 34769
Materials Accepted
Bass Road Disposal Facility
750 S. Bass Road, Kissimmee, FL 34746
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does St. Cloud pick up trash on Labor Day or Memorial Day?
Yes. The City of St. Cloud runs its regular residential curbside collections, including clam truck service, on minor holidays like Labor Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and MLK Jr. Day.
Can I put glass in my blue recycling bin in St. Cloud?
No. The local recycling facilities do not process glass. You must throw all glass bottles, jars, and broken glass into your maroon garbage cart.
How do I throw away a mattress or a broken couch?
You must schedule a bulk pickup, known locally as a 'clam truck service.' Call the Solid Waste Division at 407-957-7289 to arrange a date for the heavy machinery to collect your oversized items.
What goes in the green cart?
The green cart is designated exclusively for vegetative debris. You should use it for grass clippings, leaves, small twigs, and other organic yard waste.