Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Wellington
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)
Use the Village-issued gray automated cart. Wheels and handles must face the house. Place within 3 feet of the curb and 4 feet from mailboxes and other bins. Trash must be out by 6:00 AM on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Styrofoam (bagged)
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
Blue and Yellow Bin (Recycling)
Do not mix materials. Paper and flattened cardboard go in the yellow bin; rigid containers go in the blue bin. Do not bag your recyclables.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and paper (Yellow Bin)
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers 2 gallons or less (Blue Bin)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars with lids off (Blue Bin)
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans (Blue Bin)
- ✓Milk and juice cartons with lids on (Blue Bin)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Drink pouches
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Pizza boxes with food stains
- ✕Light bulbs
- ✕Shredded paper
Yard Waste Bin
Do not mix vegetation inside the gray garbage cart. Large piles of vegetation must conform to size and weight limits and are picked up on specific vegetation collection days.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Routine residential yard maintenance debris
- ✓Tree limbs (cut under 6 feet)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once a week
Placement
Bulk trash may be placed for collection up to 24 hours prior to your scheduled day. Keep piles at least 3 feet away from mailboxes, trees, and your automated garbage carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Major appliances (doors removed or sealed)
- ✓ Carpet (cut to 4-foot lengths, max 50 lbs)
- ✓ DIY home repair debris (containerized, max 50 lbs)
- ✓ Wood (cut under 6 feet, nails removed)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Contractor-generated debris
- ✕ Liquids and paints
- ✕ Automotive batteries and tires
- ✕ Propane tanks
- ✕ Explosives or corrosives
Bulk pickup up to 4 cubic yards is included in residential solid waste fees. Contractor debris must be hauled away by the contractor at their own expense.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
There is no garbage, recycling, or vegetation collection on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day. If your pickup day falls on either of these holidays, your waste will be collected on your next regularly scheduled service day.
Yard Waste Exception
Vegetation and bulk services follow the same Thanksgiving and Christmas cancellation rule as standard garbage.
Wellington collection operates normally throughout the rest of the year, including holidays like Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Independence Day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
No Pouches in the Blue Bin
While milk and juice cartons are perfectly acceptable in the blue recycling bin (provided you leave the caps on), foil-lined drink pouches are strictly prohibited as they cannot be properly processed.
Manage Oversized Cardboard
If you have large cardboard boxes that cannot be cut and flattened to fit easily inside your yellow recycling bin, do not jam them in. Wellington requires oversized cardboard to be put out on your regular bulk pickup day.
Leave Lids on Plastics, Off Glass
To ensure effective processing at the SWA facility, remove and discard the lids from all glass jars and bottles before placing them in the blue bin. However, for plastic bottles and jugs, compress the air out and screw the lids tightly back on.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June - NovemberOnce a tropical storm or hurricane warning is issued for Palm Beach County, immediately cease all tree trimming and do not place any bulk waste or yard debris at the curb, as high winds can turn these items into dangerous projectiles.
Spring Cleaning
March - MayIf performing minor home renovations during spring cleaning, remember that do-it-yourself construction debris (like drywall or floor tile) must be placed in containers weighing less than 50 pounds, with a maximum limit of 4 cubic yards per week.
Winter Holidays
December - JanuaryThanksgiving and Christmas Day are the only two holidays that disrupt Wellington's waste collection schedule. If your regular pickup falls on these days, service is simply skipped and will resume on your next regularly scheduled collection day.
About Wellington Waste Management
Automated Collection and Cart Ordinances in Wellington
The Village of Wellington utilizes automated gray wheeled carts for its twice-weekly household garbage collection, serviced by FCC Environmental Services. To ensure neighborhood aesthetics, Village Ordinance dictates that all containers must be screened from street view on non-collection days. Residents may place their carts at the curb no earlier than 6:00 PM the night before pickup and must securely store them by 11:00 PM on the day of collection.
Mandatory Bagging of Lightweight Debris
Because Wellington uses mechanical arms to lift and empty the gray automated trash containers, lightweight items can easily become windblown litter. The Village strictly requires residents to seal lightweight waste—such as paper scraps, plastic cups, and styrofoam—inside plastic trash bags before placing them in the gray cart. This simple step prevents neighborhood pollution and keeps the inside of the container sanitary.
SWA Dual-Stream Recycling Integration
Wellington proudly participates in the Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority (SWA) dual-stream recycling system. This highly effective program requires households to manually separate their recyclables into two bins: a yellow bin for fiber materials like cardboard and mail, and a blue bin for containers such as plastic bottles, glass jars, and metal cans. Proper separation heavily reduces facility contamination.
Safe Disposal Rules for Bulk Glass and Appliances
Wellington provides residents with a generous once-a-week bulk collection service, allowing up to 4 cubic yards of debris (roughly the size of a small pickup truck bed). However, the Village enforces strict safety protocols for hazardous bulk items. All doors on large household appliances must be removed or heavily taped shut to prevent entrapment. Additionally, large pane glass, mirrors, and glass tabletops must be broken down, wrapped in a blanket or tarp, and bagged before being placed out for collection.
Drop-off Facilities
SWA Home Chemical and Recycling Center
6161 N Jog Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33412
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time should I put my garbage cart out in Wellington?
All garbage, recycling, and vegetation containers must be placed at the curb by 6:00 AM on your scheduled collection day, but no earlier than 6:00 PM the night before. Empty containers must be brought in by 11:00 PM on collection day.
Does Wellington have weekly bulk trash pickup?
Yes, Wellington provides bulk trash collection one day per week. You are allowed to set out up to 4 cubic yards of material, which is roughly equivalent to the size of a small pickup truck bed.
How do I safely dispose of a large mirror or pane glass?
For safety reasons, Wellington requires residents to break up large items like mirrors, glass doors, and glass tabletops. The broken pieces must then be wrapped securely in a blanket or tarp, placed into a bag, and put inside your gray container.
Are there any holidays where my trash won't be collected?
Yes. Wellington's solid waste hauler only observes Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. If your collection day falls on one of these holidays, your garbage will not be picked up until your next regularly scheduled collection day.