Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for West Little River
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.
Green Cart Bin (Trash)
Bag all trash before placing it in the green cart to prevent litter and pests. Place the cart at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on collection day, ensuring at least five feet of clearance from parked cars, mailboxes, and trees.
Accepted Items
- ✓Regular household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Soiled paper products
- ✓Small plastic wrappers and non-recyclables
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
Do not put recyclables in plastic bags; leave them completely loose inside the blue cart. Flatten all cardboard to save space and prevent jamming during automated dumping.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Clean plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Dry paper, newspapers, and junk mail
- ✓Flattened cardboard boxes
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags of any kind
- ✕Bagged recyclables
- ✕Styrofoam and egg cartons
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires, hangers)
- ✕Batteries and electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Small yard waste can be placed inside your green garbage cart. Larger yard debris exceeding the cart's capacity must be scheduled as part of your annual bulky waste pickups.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small tree branches
- ✓Palm fronds
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two times per calendar year (By Appointment)
Placement
Place items curbside no earlier than 3 days prior to your appointment and no later than 7:00 a.m. on the day of collection. Keep a 15-foot overhead clearance and place items 5 feet away from cars and mailboxes.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses (must be sealed in plastic)
- ✓ Large household appliances (white goods)
- ✓ Tree limbs and yard trash (limbs under 5 feet long)
- ✓ Construction debris (limited to 3 cubic yards)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronics (TVs, computers)
- ✕ Automotive parts, tires, and batteries
- ✕ Hazardous household chemicals (paint, oil)
- ✕ Biological wastes
- ✕ Commercial contractor debris
Your two 25-cubic-yard pickups are included in your non-ad valorem property tax assessment. Combining them for a 50-cubic-yard pickup will exhaust your limit for the entire year.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Miami-Dade Solid Waste Management works on most minor holidays. Garbage and recycling collections are ONLY suspended on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Independence Day, and Christmas Day.
Yard Waste Exception
If your scheduled collection falls on one of these three observed holidays, service will be provided on your NEXT regularly scheduled collection day (it is not delayed by one day).
For unlisted holidays such as Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, and Labor Day, place your carts out by 7:00 a.m. as normal.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Seal Your Mattresses
Before you set an old mattress out for your scheduled bulk pickup in West Little River, you must buy a plastic mattress sleeve and seal it entirely with packing or duct tape. An unbagged mattress will not be collected and will trigger a $100 county fine.
Never Bag Your Recyclables
The fastest way to get your blue recycling cart rejected is by using a plastic garbage bag. Miami-Dade sorting machinery cannot process plastic film, so all paper, metal, glass, and plastics must be completely loose in the bin.
Limit DIY Remodeling Waste
If you are fixing up your home, be careful with your bulk pile. Miami-Dade County limits construction and demolition materials (like sinks, drywall, fencing, and tiles) to only 3 cubic yards per bulk pickup. Excess materials must be hauled privately.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June to NovemberWhen a tropical storm or hurricane warning is issued for Miami-Dade County, all bulky waste scheduling is suspended. Immediately secure your green and blue carts indoors, and do not place any yard debris at the curb, as high winds turn debris into dangerous projectiles.
Post-Storm Recovery
As NeededFollowing a hurricane, do not mix your storm-downed vegetative yard debris with structural debris from your home. The county will conduct specialized FEMA sweeps and requires these two types of debris to be in completely separate piles.
Spring Cleaning
March to MaySpring is the busiest time for bulky waste collection. If you plan to use one of your two 25-cubic-yard bulk pickups during these months, schedule your appointment early online or by calling 311, as wait times can be longer than usual.
About West Little River Waste Management
County-Managed Waste Collection in West Little River
Because West Little River is an unincorporated census-designated place, all residential garbage and recycling services are managed by the Miami-Dade County Department of Solid Waste Management. The county utilizes an automated dual-cart system, collecting the green garbage cart twice a week and the blue recycling cart once every two weeks. For fast disposal needs, residents also have exclusive access to the West Little River Trash and Recycling Center located on NW 79th Street, which accepts drop-offs seven days a week.
Two Free Annual Bulky Waste Collections
Instead of waiting for a monthly neighborhood bulk day, West Little River homeowners are entitled to two massive bulky waste pickups per calendar year, each allowing up to 25 cubic yards of debris. You can even combine both pickups into a single 50-cubic-yard collection. It is critical that residents schedule this pickup in advance by calling 311 or using the county's online portal before placing any items on the swale. Placing bulk trash curbside more than three days before your appointment can result in immediate code enforcement fines.
Strict Regulations for Mattresses and Construction Debris
Miami-Dade County has implemented stringent health and safety rules for bulky waste. If you are throwing away a mattress, it must be fully encased in a plastic mattress bag or sleeve and sealed tightly with heavy-duty tape to prevent the spread of bed bugs. Failing to bag a mattress will result in a $100 fine. Additionally, if you are doing DIY home remodeling, your bulk pile is strictly limited to a maximum of 3 cubic yards of construction and demolition materials (like tile, drywall, or roofing).
Keeping West Little River's Recycling Stream Clean
Miami-Dade County utilizes a single-stream recycling program, meaning all approved recyclables go into the blue cart together. However, keeping the stream clean is essential. All cardboard must be flattened, and plastic bottles, jugs, glass, and metal cans must be rinsed and placed in the cart loosely. Never put plastic grocery bags, Styrofoam, or tangled cords into the blue bin, as these items shut down the sorting equipment at the Materials Recovery Facility.
Drop-off Facilities
West Little River Trash and Recycling Center
1830 NW 79th Street, Miami, FL 33147
Materials Accepted
Golden Glades Trash and Recycling Center
140 NW 160th Street, Miami, FL 33169
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What days does the county pick up garbage in West Little River?
Because West Little River is serviced by Miami-Dade County Solid Waste Management, regular household garbage in the green cart is collected twice a week. Recycling in the blue cart is collected once every other week. You can look up your exact service days by address on the Miami-Dade Solid Waste website.
Do I need to put my mattress in a plastic bag before throwing it away?
Yes. Miami-Dade County requires that all mattresses placed curbside for bulky waste pickup must be fully encased in a plastic mattress bag or sleeve and sealed shut with heavy tape to stop bed bug transmission. Unbagged mattresses will not be collected and can incur a $100 fine.
Is my trash picked up on Thanksgiving in West Little River?
Yes. Miami-Dade County garbage trucks run regular routes on Thanksgiving Day. The only holidays where service is completely suspended are Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Independence Day (July 4th), and Christmas Day.
Where can I drop off extra trash near West Little River?
Residents paying the county waste assessment can take extra household trash, large yard debris, and appliances directly to the West Little River Trash and Recycling Center, located at 1830 NW 79th Street. It is open seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.