Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Westchase
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 Cart Bin (Trash)
All trash must be securely bagged before being placed inside the gray cart. The cart must be rolled to the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection days with the lid arrows pointing toward the street. Maintain a 3-foot clearance from mailboxes, cars, and other carts.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Soiled paper and non-recyclable packaging
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
Place all recyclables loosely into the blue cart. Never bag your recyclables. Containers should be clean, dry, and completely empty.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean plastic food and beverage containers
- ✓Aluminum and metal cans
- ✓Food and beverage cartons
- ✓Office paper, magazines, and newspapers
- ✓Flattened corrugated cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags (including bagged recyclables)
- ✕Styrofoam and foam egg cartons
- ✕Food waste and greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wire)
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in your own 30-gallon cans, boxes, or bags (each under 50 lbs). Do not use plastic bags for tree limbs. Branches must be less than 4 feet long and 6 inches in diameter. Max 2 cubic yards weekly (increases to 3 cubic yards Feb-April).
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves and brush
- ✓Shrub and tree trimmings
- ✓Palm fronds
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Self-Haul (Free up to 2 tons annually) OR Curbside (By Request / Fee Required)
Placement
If you pay for a scheduled curbside bulk pickup, place the items safely at the curb on the designated day, ensuring they do not block sidewalks, storm drains, or rest under low-hanging wires.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Large appliances (White goods)
- ✓ Televisions
- ✓ Excessive yard waste (at CCC only)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Automotive parts and engine blocks
- ✕ Commercial construction debris
- ✕ Liquid paints
Curbside pickups incur a fee ranging from $30 (mattresses, furniture) to $50 (refrigerators, large TVs). Self-hauling to a Community Collection Center is free up to 2 tons per year with proof of residency.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, collections for the remainder of that week will be pushed back by one day (e.g., Thursday service moves to Friday, and Friday service moves to Monday).
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as normal household trash.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there are no delays to the weekday curbside collection routes.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Cart
The most frequent cause of recycling contamination in Hillsborough County is the plastic grocery bag. These thin films tangle in the recycling facility's mechanical sorters. Always return plastic bags to local retail stores instead.
Exclude Treated Wood from Yard Debris
When cleaning up your property, never mix painted, varnished, or pressure-treated wood (like old fencing or pallets) into your yard waste piles. These chemical treatments ruin the county's organic mulch product.
Do Not Bag Your Recyclables
Even if you are using specialized transparent 'recycling bags,' Hillsborough County requires all items to be placed loosely into the blue cart. Bagged recyclables are often treated as standard garbage and sent to the landfill.
Seasonal Information
Spring Landscaping
February to AprilTo accommodate heavy seasonal pruning, Hillsborough County temporarily increases the residential yard waste limit in Westchase from 2 cubic yards (12 containers) up to 3 cubic yards (18 containers) per week.
Hurricane Season
June to NovemberWhen a tropical storm or hurricane warning is issued, do not place new yard waste or bulky items at the curb. Ensure your gray and blue carts are stored safely inside your garage per WCA guidelines to prevent them from becoming dangerous projectiles.
Winter Holidays
December to JanuaryHillsborough County accepts live Christmas trees as part of your regular yard waste collection. You must remove all lights, tinsel, ornaments, and the tree stand. If the tree is taller than 4 feet, it must be cut in half before being placed at the curb.
About Westchase Waste Management
Strict Cart Storage Rules Under Westchase WCA
Living in the master-planned community of Westchase comes with specific aesthetic responsibilities governed by the Westchase Community Association (WCA). According to the WCA Residential Guidelines, you cannot simply leave your gray and blue Hillsborough County carts on the side of your house. All garbage and recycling containers must be stored inside your garage. If garage storage is impossible, they must be completely screened from the view of neighboring properties and the street using an approved method, such as a stucco wall matching the home, a brick wall, or dense vegetation planted at least four feet tall.
Spring Yard Waste Allowances in Hillsborough County
Florida's subtropical climate means aggressive growing seasons and heavy pruning. Normally, Hillsborough County limits curbside residential yard waste to 2 cubic yards (about twelve 30-gallon containers) per week. However, to accommodate the heavy spring landscaping season in neighborhoods like The Bridges and West Park Village, the county temporarily increases this limit. During February, March, and April, Westchase residents are permitted to set out up to 3 cubic yards, or eighteen 30-gallon containers, of yard debris per week.
Self-Hauling vs. Paid Curbside Bulk Pickups
Unlike some municipalities that offer free scheduled curbside bulk pickups, Hillsborough County utilizes a different model. Westchase residents must pay a specialized fee (ranging from $30 to $50 depending on the item) to schedule a curbside bulk pickup for mattresses, appliances, or heavy furniture. Alternatively, residents can take advantage of the generous 2-ton annual self-haul allowance included in their property tax assessment. By bringing a photo ID and a copy of their tax bill, residents can drop off bulky items for free at a nearby Community Collection Center, such as the Northwest County Solid Waste Facility on Linebaugh Avenue.
Protecting Local Waterways from Illegal Dumping
Westchase is interwoven with numerous drainage easements, retention ponds, and canals that feed into the broader Tampa Bay ecosystem. Dumping yard waste, construction debris, or household junk near these waterways is a severe code violation. Heavy summer rains can easily wash improperly placed debris into storm drains, causing localized flooding and environmental contamination. Always ensure your refuse is placed safely on the curb, keeping it completely clear of swales and stormwater infrastructure.
Drop-off Facilities
Northwest County Solid Waste Facility (Community Collection Center)
8001 W. Linebaugh Ave, Tampa, FL 33625
Materials Accepted
Sheldon Road HHW Collection Site
9805 Sheldon Rd, Tampa, FL 33635
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Where am I allowed to store my garbage carts in Westchase?
The Westchase Community Association (WCA) strictly requires residents to store their gray and blue carts inside the garage. If that is not possible, the carts must be completely screened from street and neighbor view by a stucco wall, brick wall, or vegetation planted at least four feet tall.
How do I get rid of an old mattress or couch in Westchase?
Hillsborough County does not provide free curbside bulk pickups. You can either call Solid Waste Customer Service to schedule a pickup for a fee (typically $30 to $50), or you can self-haul the item for free to the Northwest County Solid Waste Facility on Linebaugh Avenue utilizing your annual 2-ton property tax allowance.
Does the yard waste limit change during the spring?
Yes. While the standard weekly limit is 2 cubic yards (about twelve 30-gallon containers), Hillsborough County increases this limit to 3 cubic yards (eighteen 30-gallon containers) during the heavy landscaping months of February, March, and April.
What happens if my trash day falls on Thanksgiving?
If your scheduled collection day falls on a county-observed weekday holiday like Thanksgiving, your service will be pushed back by one day for the remainder of the week (e.g., Thursday collections move to Friday, and Friday collections move to Monday).