Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Tarpon Springs
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 (Any Color) Bin (Trash)
Residents must supply their own containers. You may place up to five (5) garbage cans or heavy-duty trash bags per pickup. Cans cannot exceed 32 gallons in size and must weigh less than 50 lbs. Place at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste and diapers
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and packaging
- ✓Glassware, ceramic dishes, and foam cups
City-Provided Recycling Bins Bin (Recycling)
All recycling is collected on Thursdays city-wide. Bins are free and can be ordered from the Solid Waste office. Items must be empty, clean, dry, and placed loosely in the bin (never bagged).
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean plastics #1, #2, and #5
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans (no lids)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (no lids)
- ✓Flattened cardboard and mixed paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags of any kind
- ✕Styrofoam (foam cups/packing materials)
- ✕Food waste or greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Mirrors, ceramics, or window glass
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Use paper yard waste bags or reusable 32-gallon containers (under 50 lbs). Plastic bags are banned. Branches must be tied in bundles no more than 4 inches in diameter and weighing less than 50 lbs. No loose piles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and lawn edging
- ✓Leaves and garden plants
- ✓Brush and tree branches
- ✓Palm fronds
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Biannual Free Events OR Special Paid Pickup on Demand
Placement
Place eligible items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the day of the cleanup event or your scheduled special pickup day. Ensure they do not block sidewalks or rest under low-hanging wires.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Small household items
- ✓ Carpet and pads (cut and bundled in 4-foot sections)
- ✓ Ovens, washers, dryers, and microwaves
Not Accepted
- ✕ Propane tanks and gas-powered equipment
- ✕ Concrete and construction material over 4 feet
- ✕ Refrigerators and freezers
- ✕ Televisions, electronics, and chemicals
Special pickups outside of the biannual cleanups require an administrative fee and a volume-based charge added to your utility bill. Alternatively, residents can drop items at the Levis Ave facility for $80 per ton ($30 minimum).
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
There is no solid waste, recycling, or yard waste collection on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas. Your collection will resume on your next regularly scheduled collection day for that specific material (e.g., if you miss Thursday trash, your next pickup is Monday).
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the exact same holiday cancellation protocol as normal garbage.
Tarpon Springs does NOT alter the pickup schedule for any other observed City holidays, such as Memorial Day or Labor Day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Caps Off and Lids Out
When recycling in Tarpon Springs and the greater Pinellas County area, it is requested to remove caps from plastic bottles and metal lids from glass jars before tossing them in your bin. These small items fall through the sorting grates and contaminate other material streams.
Treated Wood Stays Out of the Brush
While tree branches and palm fronds are perfect for yard waste collection, never mix treated, painted, or stained wood (like old fencing or pallets) into your brush piles. Treated wood contains toxic chemicals that ruin the city's organic composting process and must go in the regular trash.
Say No to Bagged Recyclables
The most common reason a recycling bin is rejected in Tarpon Springs is the presence of plastic bags. Never bag your clean paper, cardboard, and cans. Place all items loosely into your curbside recycling bin to prevent jamming the sorting equipment at the Pinellas County facility.
Seasonal Information
Spring and Fall Cleaning Windows
April and NovemberTake advantage of the city's free biannual bulk pickup events in April and November. The city mails out utility bill inserts and posts social media alerts 3 to 4 weeks in advance, detailing exactly what weekend you can set out your old furniture and mattresses for free.
Hurricane Season Preparedness
June to NovemberDuring the active tropical storm months, strictly adhere to the city's container storage rules. Keep all 32-gallon garbage cans and yard waste containers securely stored in a garage or shed when a storm watch is issued to prevent them from becoming dangerous wind-borne projectiles.
Winter Holiday Debris and Trees
December to JanuaryAfter the winter holidays, Tarpon Springs makes disposing of your real Christmas tree easy. As long as you strip all lights, tinsel, and ornaments, you can place your tree curbside alongside your regular yard waste, or haul it directly to the Levis Avenue facility for a $20 fee.
About Tarpon Springs Waste Management
Navigating Yard Waste Schedules Across Pinellas Avenue
In Tarpon Springs, residential yard waste collection is uniquely divided by geography. If you live on the west side of Pinellas Avenue (Alt 19), your yard debris is collected every Monday. Conversely, neighborhoods located on the east side of Pinellas Avenue receive their yard waste pickups on Thursdays. Regardless of your zone, all properly prepared vegetative debris must be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. to guarantee collection by Waste Management.
The Strict Ban on Plastic Yard Waste Bags
To support environmentally sound composting practices, the City of Tarpon Springs has strictly banned the use of plastic bags for yard waste. Residents must place all grass clippings, leaves, and small twigs inside specialized compostable paper lawn bags or unlined reusable containers (no larger than 32 gallons). Any yard waste left in plastic bags will be tagged as non-compliant and left at the curb by sanitation crews.
Mandatory Cart Visibility and Storage Codes
Maintaining the historic and aesthetic charm of Tarpon Springs means adhering to strict municipal codes regarding garbage containers. According to city ordinance, your 32-gallon trash cans and recycling bins cannot be placed at the curb earlier than 12 hours before your scheduled collection day. More importantly, they must be removed and stored completely out of public view no later than 12 hours after the trucks have emptied them.
Biannual Free Bulk Clean-Up Events
Twice a year, generally in April and November, Tarpon Springs hosts an Annual Spring and Fall Cleanup event, allowing residents who pay for curbside service to dispose of large household items for free. During these specific weeks, you can place furniture, mattresses, and bundled carpet at the curb without calling ahead. The city also designates accompanying weekend dates during these events for residents to drop off up to four off-rim tires for free at the Levis Avenue Yard Waste Facility.
Self-Haul Options at the Levis Avenue Facility
When you have excess debris that won't fit in your twice-weekly curbside pickup, the Tarpon Springs Yard Waste Facility at 898 South Levis Avenue is a valuable resource. For a flat $20 fee (with a valid utility bill and ID), residents can drop off uncut or unbundled yard waste up to five times a month. The facility also hosts commercial dumpsters where residents can pay by the ton to dispose of heavy household items or construction debris, making it ideal for DIY home renovations.
Drop-off Facilities
Tarpon Springs Yard Waste Facility
898 South Levis Avenue, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
Materials Accepted
Tarpon Springs Police Department (Medication Drop-off)
444 S Huey Avenue, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How many trash cans can I put out each week in Tarpon Springs?
Residential customers are allowed to place up to five (5) garbage cans or heavy-duty trash bags at the curb per collection day. Each can must be provided by the resident, be no larger than 32 gallons, and weigh 50 pounds or less when filled.
Did Tarpon Springs ban plastic bags for yard waste?
Yes. The city no longer accepts yard waste in plastic bags. All grass clippings and leaves must be placed in compostable paper yard bags or in your own reusable 32-gallon trash cans. Branches must be tied in bundles no larger than 4 inches in diameter.
How do I dispose of old furniture or a mattress outside of the Spring Cleanup?
If you cannot wait for the free biannual bulk pickups in April and November, you must call the Solid Waste Division at 727-943-4837 to schedule a special pickup. You will be quoted a price based on the size of the items, which will be added directly to your monthly utility bill.
Where can I safely recycle old prescription medications?
Tarpon Springs residents can safely dispose of unwanted pills, liquids, and pet medications 24/7 at the medication drop-box located in the front lobby of the Tarpon Springs Police Department at 444 S Huey Avenue. Do not flush them down the toilet.