Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Westchester
Trash Day
Trash is collected twice per week (typically Monday/Thursday or Tuesday/Friday depending on your neighborhood zone).
Recycling
Recycling is collected every other week on your designated pickup day.
Yard Waste
Small yard waste can be bagged and placed in your green garbage cart; larger yard debris is collected through two scheduled bulky waste pickups per calendar year (up to 25 cubic yards each).
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Curbside waste collection and recycling fees are billed annually as a non-ad valorem assessment on your Miami-Dade County property tax bill.
Billing Cycle
Included in Property Taxes
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, In Person
Green Bin (Trash)
Bag all household garbage and yard clippings before placing them in the green cart. Place the cart within 3 feet of the street and at least 5 feet from mailboxes, cars, or other obstacles by 7 a.m. The wheels must face your home, and the lid must be fully closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Bagged yard trimmings
- ✓Bagged leaves and grass
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Place your blue recycling cart out by 7 a.m. on your designated alternating week. Keep all recyclables completely loose inside the bin; never pack items in plastic garbage bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean and dry paper (newspapers, mail, office paper)
- ✓Flattened cardboard boxes
- ✓Steel and aluminum cans
- ✓Aseptic cartons (juice and milk)
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Glass beverage bottles (clear, brown, green)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam products
- ✕Pizza boxes soiled with grease
- ✕Batteries
- ✕Window glass and mirrors
- ✕Garden hoses
- ✕Household chemicals
Yard Waste Bin
Standard yard clippings must be bagged and placed inside the green waste cart. Larger tree limbs and brush should be reserved for a scheduled bulky waste pickup or taken to a Trash and Recycling Center.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small branches
- ✓Tree limbs (cut to 5 feet for bulk pickup)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two pickups per calendar year
Placement
Place items at the curb no earlier than 3 days prior to your confirmed appointment and no later than 7 a.m. on the collection day. Maintain a 15-foot overhead clearance from trees and power lines, and keep piles 5 feet from cars and mailboxes.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables, cabinets)
- ✓ Mattresses (must be encased in plastic and sealed)
- ✓ White goods/appliances (refrigerator doors must be removed)
- ✓ Up to 3 cubic yards of wooden fencing
- ✓ Carpet (rolled)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Microwaves and electronics
- ✕ Tires and auto parts
- ✕ Household chemicals and oil-based paint
- ✕ Free-flowing liquids
- ✕ Dirt, rock, or sand
- ✕ More than 3 cubic yards of construction debris
The standard two pickups are included in your annual non-ad valorem tax assessment. Any piles exceeding your cubic yard limit will exhaust future pickups or result in excess yardage fees.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Miami-Dade County provides waste collection services on most holidays, rain or shine. Collections are only paused on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Independence Day, and Christmas Day.
Yard Waste Exception
Because the county collects garbage twice a week, skipped holiday collections are not pushed back by one day. If your pickup falls on an observed holiday, your service will simply resume on your next regularly scheduled collection day.
The 311 Contact Center and solid waste administrative offices may have altered hours on all federal holidays. Download the MDC Solid Waste app for instant service alerts.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Summer/Fall
June - NovemberDuring hurricane season, bulky waste collections may be temporarily suspended if a tropical storm or hurricane watch is issued for Miami-Dade County. Do not place new debris at the curb until after the severe weather threat has completely passed.
Winter
December - JanuaryFollowing the holidays, Miami-Dade County provides specialized Christmas tree recycling. Clean, decoration-free trees can be dropped off at designated Trash and Recycling Centers to be chipped into free mulch for residents.
Spring
March - MayIf you are conducting heavy spring landscaping before storm season, remember that any tree limbs placed out for a scheduled bulky waste pickup must be cut down to no more than five feet in length to be accepted.
Local Tips & Community Info
Cash for Your Cans? Westchester Residents, Here's Where to Go!
Hey Westchester neighbors! Did you know you can actually make a few bucks from those empty aluminum cans and plastic bottles? While our regular recycling bins are great, for those extra cash-in-hand opportunities, keep an eye out for Florida's redemption centers. Although specific buyback centers right in Westchester might be rare, many places across South Florida accept these items. Think about checking out places like Bottle & Can Redemption Centers or general scrap metal yards in nearby areas like Miami-Dade County. Sometimes, even local convenience stores might participate in redemption programs. It's a win-win: you get a little cash, and those items get a new life!
Got Stuff to Give Away? Let's Keep it Out of the Landfill, Westchester!
Before you toss that gently used couch or those clothes you don't wear anymore, think about donating them! Giving items a second chance is a fantastic way to help out our community and reduce waste. In the Westchester area and nearby Miami-Dade, you've got options. Consider checking out Goodwill stores or Salvation Army locations. For furniture and home goods, Habitat for Humanity ReStores are often looking for donations – they help fund affordable housing projects, which is pretty neat! You can often find drop-off locations or even arrange for pickups. It feels good to declutter and do good at the same time.
Keeping Westchester Clean: Tackling Dumped Trash Together
We all want a clean and beautiful Westchester. If you ever spot illegal dumping – you know, trash left where it shouldn't be – it's super important to report it. The best way to handle this is usually to contact the Miami-Dade County Department of Solid Waste Management. They have specific procedures for dealing with illegally dumped items and often organize community clean-up events. Keep an eye out on local community boards or the county's website for announcements about these events. It’s a collective effort to keep our neighborhoods looking great!
Drop-off Facilities
Snapper Creek Trash and Recycling Center
2200 SW 117 Avenue, Miami, FL 33165
Materials Accepted
West Dade Home Chemical Collection Center
8801 NW 58th St, Doral, FL 33178
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I safely dispose of a mattress in Westchester?
Miami-Dade County requires all mattresses placed at the curb for bulky waste collection to be fully encased in a plastic mattress bag or sleeve and sealed tightly with weather-resistant tape (such as duct or packing tape). Failure to bag the mattress may result in a $100 fine.
Can I leave extra trash bags next to my green garbage cart?
No. The county's automated side-loading trucks can only collect waste that is securely inside the green cart with the lid closed. Items stacked on top of or placed alongside the cart cannot and will not be collected.
Are there size limits on tree limbs for bulk collection?
Yes. When scheduling a bulky waste pickup for heavy landscaping debris, all tree branches and limbs in the pile must be cut to a maximum length of five feet. A 15-foot overhead clearance from power lines is also required for the collection crane.
Will Miami-Dade County replace my green trash cart if it breaks?
If your 96-gallon green waste cart is damaged during the standard collection process by the automated trucks, the county will repair or replace it free of charge. However, if the cart is damaged due to misuse, such as loading it with prohibited heavy construction materials, you will be responsible for the cost of the replacement.