Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Sun City Center
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.
Gray Bin (Trash)
All household garbage should be bagged before placing it in the gray cart to prevent odors, pests, and litter. Do not overfill the cart; the lid must close tightly to be serviced.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Plastic bags and wrappers
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Textiles and worn clothing
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do NOT bag recyclables. All acceptable items must be placed loosely into the blue cart. Ensure all food and beverage containers are completely empty and rinsed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean and empty plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Clean and empty aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Clean and empty glass bottles and jars
- ✓Dry paper, newspaper, and junk mail
- ✓Clean flattened cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags, film, or shrink wrap
- ✕Bagged recyclables
- ✕Styrofoam packing materials
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, clothing)
Yard Waste Bin
Limit of 2 cubic yards weekly. Use personal containers or bags (max 50 lbs each). Branches must be under 4 feet long and 6 inches in diameter, and must be bundled or stacked.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves and pine needles
- ✓Tree limbs and branches
- ✓Shrub trimmings and palm fronds
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Self-haul only (up to 10 cubic yards annually)
Placement
Do not leave bulky items at the curb. You must bring them to a designated Community Collection Center during operating hours and show a valid photo ID and your property tax bill.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, mattresses, tables)
- ✓ Large household appliances (white goods)
- ✓ Tires (limit of 12 per year)
- ✓ Scrap metal and bulky household junk
Not Accepted
- ✕ Dump trailers are not allowed (must unload by hand)
- ✕ Commercial construction waste
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals (unless at specific HHW events)
Residential customers receive 10 cubic yards of free bulky waste disposal per year. Once this limit is reached, standard commercial tipping fees apply.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a holiday falls on a weekday, collections for the rest of the week will be pushed back by one day. For example, a Thursday holiday means Thursday service moves to Friday, and Friday service moves to Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and recycling follow the same holiday shift schedule as regular household garbage.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there are typically no delays to the weekday collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Cart
Never bag your recyclables. While clean plastic grocery bags can be taken back to local supermarkets for recycling, placing them in your curbside blue cart can cause severe damage to the county sorting facility [1.2.1].
Empty and Dry is Essential
A half-full soda bottle or unrinsed juice carton will contaminate an entire load of clean paper and cardboard. Always empty and quickly rinse out your bottles and cans before tossing them in the recycling bin.
Beware of Tanglers
Garden hoses, electrical cords, and old clothing are considered 'tanglers'. They should never go in the blue recycling cart. If they cannot be donated, they belong strictly in your gray garbage cart.
Seasonal Information
Spring Cleanup
February - AprilDuring peak landscaping months, residents frequently undertake major yard cleanups. Ensure you do not exceed the 2-cubic-yard weekly limit, and never mix contractor-generated debris into your personal curbside piles.
Hurricane Season
June - NovemberIf a tropical storm or hurricane warning is issued for Hillsborough County, immediately secure all gray and blue carts inside your garage. Do not place any yard waste or branches at the curb, as high winds can turn them into dangerous projectiles.
Post-Holiday Cleanup
December - JanuaryLive Christmas trees are collected at the curb on your regular yard waste collection day. You must remove all lights, tinsel, and ornaments, and the tree must be cut into sections no larger than 4 feet long.
About Sun City Center Waste Management
Navigating Hillsborough County Services in Sun City Center
Because Sun City Center is an unincorporated, age-restricted census-designated place, its residential waste is managed directly by Hillsborough County Solid Waste and its franchised haulers. Residents are provided with automated roll carts: a gray cart for household garbage (collected twice a week) and a blue cart for recycling (collected once a week). Carts must be rolled to the curb by 6:00 AM on service days. Given the community's heavy reliance on golf carts and tight driveways, it is vital to ensure your waste bins are placed at least three feet away from vehicles, mailboxes, and each other to allow the mechanical arm to work.
Strict No-Bag Recycling Policy
Hillsborough County enforces a strict 'no plastic bags' policy for its curbside recycling program. When using your blue cart in Sun City Center, all clean paper, flattened cardboard, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and glass jars must be placed loosely inside. Bagging your recyclables in plastic grocery sacks or trash bags will result in the hauler leaving the cart unemptied, as loose plastic film frequently jams the county's sorting machinery.
Generous Yard Waste Allowances for Florida Landscapes
Maintaining tropical plants and lawns requires frequent yard work. Hillsborough County provides an accommodating yard waste program, allowing Sun City Center residents to set out up to 2 cubic yards (equivalent to about twelve 30-gallon containers) of yard debris each week. The rules require that all leaves, grass clippings, and small twigs be placed in personal bins, boxes, or bags weighing 50 pounds or less. Branches must be neatly stacked or bundled, and they cannot exceed 4 feet in length and 6 inches in diameter.
Handling Bulk Waste via Community Collection Centers
Unlike some municipalities that offer automatic weekly curbside bulk pickups, Hillsborough County utilizes a self-haul system. Sun City Center households are granted a generous 10-cubic-yard annual allowance to dispose of bulk waste, furniture, and appliances for free at designated Community Collection Centers (CCCs). The most convenient drop-off for SCC residents is the Wimauma Solid Waste Facility just down the road on West Lake Drive. Remember to bring a valid photo ID and a copy of your property tax bill.
Drop-off Facilities
Wimauma Solid Waste Facility (Community Collection Center)
16180 W. Lake Dr., Wimauma, FL 33598
Materials Accepted
South County Solid Waste Facility
13000 US Hwy 41, Gibsonton, FL 33534
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recycle glass in Sun City Center?
Yes. While some neighboring counties have removed glass from their programs, Hillsborough County still accepts clean and empty glass bottles and jars in your curbside blue recycling cart [1.4.1].
How do I get rid of an old mattress or refrigerator?
Hillsborough County does not offer regular curbside bulk pickup. Residents must self-haul large bulky items or appliances to a Community Collection Center, such as the nearby Wimauma Solid Waste Facility. You are provided an annual 10-cubic-yard free disposal allowance; just remember to bring your photo ID and a copy of your property tax bill.
Why didn't the hauler empty my blue recycling cart?
The most common reason for a missed recycling collection is that items were placed inside plastic bags. Hillsborough County strictly requires all recyclables to be placed loosely inside the blue cart. If they see plastic grocery or trash bags, they will leave the cart at the curb.
What happens if my garbage day falls on Thanksgiving or Christmas?
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, all waste collections for the remainder of that week are pushed back by one day. For example, Thursday pickups will occur on Friday, and Friday pickups will occur on Saturday.