Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for University Orange County
Trash Day
Garbage is collected once per week, Monday through Friday, on an assigned collection day based on your address (serviced alongside large item collection).
Recycling
Recycling is collected once per week in the blue-lid cart on a designated weekday separate from garbage pickup.
Yard Waste
Yard waste is collected once per week on the same assigned day as your recycling pickup.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Curbside collection services are charged annually as a non-ad valorem assessment on your Orange County property tax bill rather than through a monthly utility statement.
Billing Cycle
Included in Property Taxes
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, In-Person, Phone
Green Lid Bin (Trash)
All household trash must be securely bagged before being placed inside the green-lidded cart. Place your cart at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day or after 6:00 p.m. the night before.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Bagged food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam
Blue Lid Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag your recyclables. Place approved items directly into the blue-lidded cart loose, clean, and dry.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, and clear to-go cups
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Air pillows
- ✕Bubble wrap
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Food waste
Yard Waste Bin
Limit yard waste to 3 cubic yards per week. Use your own bags or waterproof cans (up to 50 gallons) weighing less than 60 lbs each. Bundle branches (up to 3 feet long and under 60 lbs) with string or twine.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Tree trimmings
- ✓Palm fronds
- ✓Shrub trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly
Placement
Place bulk items neatly at the curb between 6 p.m. the night before and 6 a.m. on your collection day. Ensure items are kept away from mailboxes, meters, and utility boxes to avoid blocking trucks.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large appliances
- ✓ Televisions
- ✓ Up to 4 passenger car tires per household
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Propane tanks
- ✕ Hazardous household chemicals
- ✕ Liquid waste
Bulk trash collection is included in your annual county property tax assessment; no additional fees apply for standard residential bulky items.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When Thanksgiving or Christmas Day falls on a regularly scheduled service day, all remaining collections for that week will be pushed back by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and large item pickup will also follow the delayed schedule along with regular garbage and recycling during these two holidays.
These are the only two holidays that affect the Orange County Utilities' pickup schedule. Curbside service occurs normally on all other holidays, including New Year's Day and Memorial Day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Adhere to the 'Think 5' Guidelines
Orange County limits recycling strictly to five categories: plastic containers, metal cans, glass, cardboard, and paper. If an item doesn't fit into these five specific categories, throw it in your green garbage cart.
Never Bag Your Recyclables
Bagged recyclables cannot be opened or processed at the sorting facility and end up in the landfill. Always toss your approved recyclable items loosely into the blue cart.
Keep Tanglers Out
Items like plastic grocery bags, Christmas lights, and garden hoses will severely jam the machinery at the recycling center. Instead of placing them in your blue bin, take plastic grocery bags to designated drop-off bins at local UCF-area supermarkets.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June to NovemberIf a severe storm or hurricane warning is issued for Central Florida, move all empty roll carts, loose yard waste, and bulky items indoors or into a garage so they do not become dangerous projectiles in high winds.
Post-Storm Recovery
Late Summer to FallFollowing a major storm, Orange County Utilities will prioritize household garbage to maintain sanitation. Curbside yard waste collection may take several extra passes to collect all vegetative debris, so delays are normal.
Winter Holidays
December to JanuaryLive Christmas trees are accepted on your standard yard waste collection day. You must strip the tree of all ornaments, tinsel, and lights. Trees over six feet tall must be cut in half before placing them at the curb.
About University Orange County Waste Management
Comprehensive Guide to University CDP Trash Collection
Nestled around the University of Central Florida, the University CDP is a bustling census-designated place in unincorporated Orange County. Because it sits outside Orlando city limits, waste management is exclusively overseen by the Orange County Utilities Solid Waste Division. Residents are provided with a green-lidded cart for standard household garbage and a blue-lidded cart for recycling, ensuring an efficient and uniform approach to keeping the neighborhoods clean.
Important Schedule Updates for Unincorporated Orange County
It is critical for University CDP residents to stay up to date with the county's routing improvements. Orange County Utilities periodically updates their standardized routes to maximize efficiency as the population grows. While you will always receive weekly pickups for trash, recycling, and yard waste, your specific collection days might shift. Residents should regularly utilize the official Orange County collection lookup tool to verify their exact service schedule.
Handling Bulky Waste and Dorm Cleanouts
With a large population of university students and young professionals, the moving season frequently brings an influx of bulky waste like futons, old mattresses, and broken electronics. Fortunately, Orange County provides weekly large item collection on the very same day as your standard household garbage pickup. You can confidently place appliances, furniture, and up to four car tires at the curb without needing to call ahead for a special appointment.
Yard Debris and Tropical Weather Resilience
Florida's dynamic tropical climate demands specific yard waste protocols, particularly during hurricane season. Orange County requires that branches be cut to three feet and bundled securely before curbside placement. Should a tropical storm or hurricane impact the region, household garbage always becomes the county's immediate priority. Large volumes of storm-related vegetative debris will be collected in subsequent, separate passes, so patience is appreciated during major cleanup efforts.
The 'Think 5' Recycling Initiative
To combat high contamination rates in the local recycling stream, Orange County strictly enforces the 'Think 5' campaign. Residents of the University area must limit their blue-lidded carts to just five categories: plastic bottles, jugs and tubs, metal cans, glass jars, cardboard, and paper. By omitting 'tanglers' such as plastic shopping bags and electrical cords, you help the local materials recovery facility run safely and efficiently.
Drop-off Facilities
Orange County Landfill
5901 Young Pine Road, Orlando, FL 32829
Materials Accepted
Porter Road Transfer Station
1326 Good Homes Road, Orlando, FL 32818
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides garbage collection for the University CDP area in Florida?
Because University is an unincorporated census-designated place in Orange County, all residential curbside solid waste and recycling services are strictly managed by Orange County Utilities.
What are the local rules for disposing of yard waste in the UCF area?
Yard waste is picked up weekly. You must use your own waterproof cans (up to 50 gallons) or bags, and each must weigh no more than 60 pounds. Limbs must be cut to 3 feet or less and bundled securely. The weekly limit is three cubic yards per household.
How does the holiday trash schedule work in University, FL?
Orange County Utilities only observes Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. If your normal pickup falls on one of these days, your collection—and all subsequent collections that week—will shift one day later. Service runs as usual on all other holidays.
How do I throw away a mattress or couch in the University CDP?
You can place bulky items like mattresses, couches, and large appliances at the curb on your normal household garbage day. No special request or phone call is needed for standard large items.