Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Winter Park
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.
City-issued Waste Pro Cart Bin (Trash)
All household garbage must be securely bagged before being placed inside the cart to minimize odors and prevent loose litter. Do not overload the cart; the lid must be able to close.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
- ✓Lightly soiled paper products
City-issued Recycling Cart Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be placed loosely in the cart—never bagged. If you have excess recyclables, they may be placed inside brown paper bags next to the cart. Cardboard must be broken down.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, flattened cardboard
- ✓Paper (junk mail, magazines, office paper)
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags of any kind
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Household garbage
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Household hazardous waste (batteries, paint)
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste must be containerized in reusable bins or neatly bundled and stacked. Loose, uncontainerized yard waste scattered in the street or over a storm drain is a violation of city code.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves and pine needles
- ✓Tree trimmings
- ✓Shrubbery cuttings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Biannually (May and November) or on-demand for a fee
Placement
For the designated free pickup events, bulk items must be placed curbside after 5:00 p.m. the evening prior to your second regularly scheduled household trash pickup day.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large appliances (white goods)
- ✓ Refrigerators and freezers (doors MUST be removed)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Wet paint and chemicals
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Commercial construction debris
Outside of the scheduled May and November cleanup events, residents must contact Waste Pro at (407) 774-0800 to obtain a price quote and schedule an out-of-cycle bulk pickup.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Waste Pro only suspends collection for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. On these two days, services will not run. Garbage and recycling will be picked up on your next normally scheduled service day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the exact same suspension schedule as regular household garbage on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Unlike many neighboring areas, Waste Pro collections in Winter Park operate normally on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day with no service interruptions.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Loose Recyclables Only
Never place your clean recyclables inside a plastic garbage bag. Plastic bags tangle the gears at the material recovery facility. Simply drop your rinsed bottles, cans, and paper loosely into the cart.
Use Brown Paper Bags for Overflow
If your recycling cart is full, do not pile loose items on top of the lid or use plastic bags. Winter Park specifically allows residents to use brown paper grocery bags for excess recyclables placed beside the cart.
Keep E-Waste Out of the Carts
Electronic waste (e-waste) and household hazardous chemicals like pool chlorine or rechargeable batteries cannot go into your curbside bins. They must be dropped off at designated Orange County or Seminole County landfill facilities.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June to NovemberAccording to Winter Park city code, absolutely no yard waste should be placed at the curbside once the National Weather Service has issued a named storm watch or warning. Wait until the severe weather threat has been officially lifted before setting out debris.
Spring and Fall Cleanups
May and NovemberTake advantage of the city's biannual Bulk Day Pickups in May and November. This is the only time Waste Pro collects large items like mattresses and couches for free without requiring a special quoted fee.
Winter Holidays
Late December to JanuaryBecause Waste Pro routes are suspended on Christmas Day, households with twice-a-week collection must hold their waste until their next regularly scheduled service day. Ensure all holiday shipping boxes are broken down to maximize space.
About Winter Park Waste Management
Standardized Curbside Carts in Winter Park
Residential waste collection in the City of Winter Park is managed under an exclusive franchise agreement with Waste Pro. Homeowners are provided with city-branded carts for standard household garbage and single-stream recycling. To guarantee automated collection, residents must place these carts at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on their scheduled service day. The carts must face the street and be positioned at least three feet away from mailboxes, trees, and utility boxes to allow the mechanical truck arm enough clearance.
The Excess Recycling Paper Bag Rule
A unique feature of Winter Park's recycling program is how it handles overflow. While many cities require residents to simply hold onto excess recyclables until the next week or pay for a second cart, Winter Park allows you to place overflow recycling into brown paper grocery bags. These paper bags should be set neatly next to your blue recycling cart. However, you must never use plastic garbage bags for recyclables, as they will be treated as contamination and sent to the landfill.
Biannual Free Bulk Cleanup Days
Rather than offering year-round free bulk pickup or forcing residents to haul large items to the landfill, Winter Park designates two specific months for free community-wide bulk collection: May (Spring Cleanup) and November (Fall Bulk Day Pickup). During these designated periods, residents can set out old furniture, mattresses, and appliances on the evening prior to their second scheduled garbage collection day of the week. At any other time of the year, bulky waste removal requires a direct call to Waste Pro to receive a custom quote and pay an additional fee.
Navigating Holiday Service Schedules
Winter Park's holiday collection schedule differs from many surrounding municipalities in Orange County. Waste Pro does not pause residential routes for most minor and federal holidays, meaning collections happen as normal on Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, and even New Year's Day. The only two observed holidays where routes are completely suspended are Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. If your collection falls on those two days, your materials will not be picked up the next day, but rather on your next regularly scheduled service day.
Drop-off Facilities
Orange County Landfill (Household Hazardous Waste & eWaste)
5901 Young Pine Road, Orlando, FL 32829
Materials Accepted
Seminole County Landfill
1930 State Road 419, Longwood, FL 32750
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I request an extra bulk garbage pickup in Winter Park?
While Winter Park provides free bulk item pickups twice a year (during May and November), you can request a bulk pickup at any other time by calling Waste Pro directly at (407) 774-0800. Be aware that an additional quoted fee will apply for out-of-season collections.
Will my garbage be picked up on the Fourth of July or Labor Day?
Yes. Waste Pro routes in Winter Park operate normally with no service interruptions on most major holidays, including the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Memorial Day, and New Year's Day. The only holidays that suspend service are Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
What should I do if my blue recycling cart is completely full?
If you have more recyclables than will fit in your city-issued cart, do not put them in plastic garbage bags. The city permits you to place excess, clean recyclables into brown paper grocery bags and set them neatly beside your blue cart for collection.
Are there any special rules for throwing away a refrigerator?
Yes. If you are setting out a refrigerator or freezer during a bulk pickup event, the city strictly requires that all doors be completely removed before the appliance is placed at the curb. This is a critical safety measure to ensure children do not become trapped inside.