Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Tamarac
Trash Day
Trash is collected twice weekly: Tuesdays and Fridays for Zones 1 and 2, and Mondays and Thursdays for Zones 3 and 4.
Recycling
Recycling is collected once weekly on your zone's designated day: Tuesdays (Zone 1), Fridays (Zone 2), Mondays (Zone 3), or Thursdays (Zone 4).
Yard Waste
Yard waste and bulk trash are collected once weekly: Fridays (Zone 1), Tuesdays (Zone 2), Thursdays (Zone 3), or Mondays (Zone 4). Small yard waste can also go in your regular garbage cart.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential solid waste services are managed by Waste Management and billed alongside city utilities. Automatic deductions can be arranged via the Tamarac Automatic Payment Plan (TAPP).
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (TAPP), Phone, Mail, In-Person, Drop Box
Pro Tip / Discount
Early payment discounts (1% to 4%) apply to the annual stormwater fee assessment when paid early on Broward County tax bills; no specific low-income or senior utility rate discounts are listed.
Green Cart (or resident-provided 30-gallon bins in manual zones) Bin (Trash)
Place carts curbside before 7:00 AM on your designated collection day. The lid must close completely. Ensure the cart is not blocked by mailboxes, fences, or parked cars. Carts should not be placed out more than 24 hours prior to collection.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (mandatory)
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Pizza box bottoms with food residue
Blue Cart (or Green Cart with Blue Lid) Bin (Recycling)
Tamarac uses single-stream recycling. Do not bag your recyclables; place them loosely inside the cart. All cardboard must be broken down and cut into smaller pieces to avoid jamming the trucks.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1 - #7 (No caps or lids)
- ✓Newspaper, junk mail, and mixed paper
- ✓Cardboard cut into 24x24 inch pieces or smaller
- ✓Aluminum, steel, and tin cans
- ✓Milk cartons and juice boxes
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles or jars
- ✕Plastic bags of any kind
- ✕Styrofoam and plastic to-go containers
- ✕Pizza box bottoms
- ✕Ceramic cookware or mirrors
Yard Waste Bin
Small yard waste can be bagged and placed in the regular garbage cart. Larger yard waste can be placed out on bulk collection day but must be cut into lengths not exceeding 4 feet and tied in bundles weighing 40 pounds or less.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass trimmings
- ✓Tree limbs
- ✓Palm fronds
- ✓Lumber (untreated)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly for single-family homes; Quarterly for condominiums.
Placement
Place items curbside in a neat and orderly manner. Do not place bulk items near mailboxes, fences, or parked cars, as the grapple trucks need overhead clearance.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches, chairs, and mattresses
- ✓ Appliances
- ✓ Carpeting (cut to 4-foot sections)
- ✓ Bundled tree trimmings and yard waste
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction materials (roof shingles, tiles, sheetrock, concrete)
- ✕ Commercially generated landscaping debris
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paint, oil)
- ✕ Automotive parts and large truck tires
Standard bulk collection within the 3-cubic-yard limit is included in your utility fees. Contractor-generated debris must be removed by the contractor at the homeowner's expense.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Waste Management operates regular residential collection routes Monday through Friday all year long. The only exception is if your scheduled collection day falls on December 25th (Christmas Day).
Yard Waste Exception
Bulk and yard waste collections are also skipped if they fall exactly on Christmas Day.
Collections occur completely normally on Thanksgiving Day, New Year's Day, Memorial Day, and the Fourth of July. Ensure your carts are at the curb by 7:00 AM on these holidays.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June to NovemberDuring an active tropical storm or hurricane watch in Broward County, Waste Management will suspend bulk pickups. Immediately stop placing yard waste, bulk items, or regular carts at the curb to prevent them from becoming dangerous projectiles in high winds.
Condominium Move-Out Season
April to MayAs snowbirds leave for the summer, condo trash rooms often overflow. Remember that condos only receive quarterly bulk pickups. If you miss your designated date, you must hire a private hauler or take your furniture to a county landfill to avoid HOA fines.
Post-Holiday Cleanup
Late DecemberChristmas Day is the only holiday where waste collection is paused. For all other holidays, collections continue as normal. When disposing of holiday boxes, remember to cut cardboard into 24-inch squares and throw away all styrofoam packing peanuts.
Local Tips & Community Info
Turn Your Scrap into Cash in Tamarac!
Got old metal, aluminum cans, or other recyclables cluttering up your garage? While Tamarac's regular recycling program is fantastic, sometimes you can make a little extra cash. Look for local scrap yards in and around the Fort Lauderdale area. Many will buy your aluminum cans, copper, steel, and other metals. It's a great way to declutter and earn a few bucks. While there isn't a specific bottle/can redemption center directly in Tamarac for the state program, keeping your aluminum cans separate from your curbside recycling can lead to a nice return at a local yard.
Give Your Old Stuff a Second Life in the Tamarac Area
Before you toss perfectly good items, think about giving them a new home! In the Tamarac vicinity, consider donating items to organizations like Habitat for Humanity ReStore in nearby Pompano Beach or Fort Lauderdale. They happily accept furniture, appliances, building materials, and home decor. You can also check out local thrift stores or charities that support the community by offering affordable goods. It's a win-win: you declutter your home, and someone else gets a great deal.
Keeping Tamarac Clean: Tackling Big Messes and Bad Behavior
While your regular trash pickup handles day-to-day waste, sometimes you encounter bigger or trickier items. For hazardous waste, keep an eye on the City of Tamarac's official announcements for special collection events – they're usually listed on the city's website or through community newsletters. If you happen to see illegal dumping, it's important to report it. Contacting the City of Tamarac's code enforcement or public works department is the best way to help keep our neighborhoods clean and beautiful for everyone.
Drop-off Facilities
Broward County Residential Drop-Off Center
2780 N. Powerline Road, Pompano Beach, FL 33069
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What is my garbage collection zone in Tamarac?
Tamarac is divided into four collection zones. Depending on your zone, your garbage will be collected either on Mon/Thu or Tue/Fri. You can verify your exact zone and schedule using the interactive Collection Map on the City of Tamarac's official website.
Why didn't Waste Management take my yard trimmings?
Yard waste left at the curb for bulk pickup must be properly prepared. Tree trimmings, branches, and palm fronds must be cut into sections no longer than 4 feet and tied into bundles. Each bundle cannot weigh more than 40 pounds. Unbundled or oversized piles will be left behind.
Can I put glass bottles in my recycling cart in Tamarac?
No. The City of Tamarac strictly prohibits glass bottles, glass jars, mirrors, and window glass in the recycling cart. All glass materials must be thrown directly into your regular green garbage cart.
Do I need to call ahead for a refrigerator pickup in Tamarac?
For single-family homes, no. Appliances are collected as part of your weekly scheduled bulk pickup day. Just ensure the item is at the curb by 7:00 AM. However, condo residents only have bulk collection once a quarter and should check with their HOA for specific appliance disposal rules.