Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Wright
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 or Black WM Cart Bin (Trash)
All household garbage must be bagged before being placed in the trash cart. Carts must be placed curbside with the lid opening facing the street, away from mailboxes, parked cars, and low-hanging tree branches.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste and wrappers
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and styrofoam
- ✓Bagged pet waste and diapers
WM Cart with Yellow or Blue Lid Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables; place them loosely in the cart. Ensure all bottles and containers are completely rinsed of food residue or liquids before recycling.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and mixed paper
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers (#1 through #7)
- ✓Clean aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars
- ✓Newspapers and magazines
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and plastic film
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, holiday lights)
- ✕Styrofoam (foam cups/packing peanuts)
- ✕Household garbage and food waste
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
Branches must not exceed 6 feet in length and 4 inches in diameter. Do not mix treated wood or contractor-generated land clearing debris with regular residential yard waste.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Palm fronds
- ✓Small branches and twigs
- ✓Shrubbery cuttings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your designated curbside collection day
Placement
Place items in front of your residence, away from mailboxes, telephone poles, and parked cars, ensuring the loader packer truck has clear access.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture (couches, mattresses)
- ✓ Bicycles and electronics
- ✓ Push-type lawn mowers (oil and gas completely drained)
- ✓ Automotive tires (maximum of 4, rims must be removed)
- ✓ Treated lumber (must be separated from other trash)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Commercial vehicle tires or heavy equipment tires
- ✕ Land clearing or tree removal debris
- ✕ Building demolition debris
- ✕ Rocks, dirt, and concrete
Standard residential bulk pickup is included in the county franchise service. Extremely large clean-outs or debris generated by professional contractors must be hauled directly to a landfill or transfer station at the owner's expense.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Waste Management offices and collections in the Okaloosa County franchised areas are only closed on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If your regular service falls on one of these holidays, pickups will generally be delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and recycling pickups are subject to the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard household garbage.
County transfer stations and hazardous waste drop-off locations are also closed on these three major observed holidays.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Recycling Stream
Never bag your recyclables. Okaloosa County strictly prohibits plastic grocery bags and garbage bags in the recycling bin because they wrap around and jam the mechanical sorting screens at the processing plant.
Ditch the Tanglers
Items like garden hoses, wire hangers, extension cords, and string lights are notorious 'tanglers' that destroy recycling machinery. If you need to dispose of them, they belong directly in your standard household trash bin.
Styrofoam Goes in the Trash
Even if your foam egg carton or takeout container has a recycling symbol on the bottom, Styrofoam is not accepted in the Okaloosa County curbside recycling program. Always throw it in your regular garbage.
Seasonal Information
Summer/Fall
June to NovemberDuring Florida's Atlantic Hurricane Season, pay close attention to weather alerts. Do not trim trees, cut down branches, or place large bulk items at the curb if a tropical storm or hurricane warning is issued for Okaloosa County, as heavy winds turn debris into dangerous projectiles.
Winter
Late November to JanuaryWaste Management and the county transfer stations only observe three major holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If your collection day falls on one of these holidays, expect a one-day delay in your curbside pickup schedule.
Spring
March to MayAs the weather warms and intense yard maintenance begins, remember the county's size restrictions for yard waste: branches must be cut down to 6 feet or less. Large stumps or professional land-clearing debris must be handled by private hauling services.
About Wright Waste Management
Unincorporated Wright's Franchised Waste Collection
Because Wright is an unincorporated census-designated place, residential trash, recycling, and yard waste services are dictated by Okaloosa County's solid waste division. The county maintains an exclusive, long-term franchise agreement with Waste Management (WM) for collection areas 1 through 5, which includes the Wright community. This means all standard single-family residential curbside services in the area are operated entirely by WM trucks and customer service teams.
Strict Curbside Yard Waste Parameters
Florida's subtropical climate means yard maintenance is a year-round job, but Waste Management enforces specific dimensional limits at the curb. Vegetative matter like grass clippings, dry leaf rakings, and palm fronds are perfectly fine. However, branches cannot exceed six feet in length or four inches in diameter. Furthermore, any debris generated by professional land clearing, commercial building demolition, or hired tree surgeons is strictly prohibited from curbside pickup and must be hauled away by the contractor.
Disposing of Bulk Items and Special Waste
The residential franchise agreement allows for the curbside pickup of standard bulk waste, including household furniture, treated lumber (if separated), and up to four automotive passenger tires (rims must be removed). Even push-type lawn mowers are accepted, provided all gas and oil are completely drained. For exceptionally large items like white goods (appliances), Wright residents can also utilize the South Okaloosa County Transfer Station for free drop-off.
Navigating the Single-Stream Recycling Program
Okaloosa County requires proper single-stream recycling habits to prevent facility contamination. Wright residents are issued dedicated recycling carts that accept mixed paper, clean cardboard, plastic containers labeled #1 through #7, tin/steel cans, and clean glass jars. It is absolutely vital that recyclables remain loose; items tied in plastic grocery bags or contractor bags will be treated as garbage and sent to the landfill.
Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Proximity
Hazardous household items—such as pool chemicals, wet paint, pesticides, antifreeze, and rechargeable batteries—pose a severe threat to local groundwater and landfill safety, and are completely banned from curbside bins. Thankfully, Wright residents are just a short drive from the South Okaloosa Household Hazardous Waste collection facility on Ready Avenue in Fort Walton Beach, which operates Tuesday through Saturday to safely process these dangerous materials.
Drop-off Facilities
South Okaloosa County Transfer Station
630 Transit Way (off MLK Jr Blvd) / 80 Ready Ave, Fort Walton Beach, FL
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides trash pickup service in Wright, FL?
Because Wright is an unincorporated area in Okaloosa County, residential trash, recycling, and yard waste services are provided exclusively by Waste Management (WM) under a franchised agreement with the county.
Can I throw a lawnmower out for bulk trash pickup?
Yes, you can place push-type lawn mowers out for curbside bulk collection, but you must completely drain all gasoline and oil from the equipment before placing it at the curb to avoid hazardous spills.
What should I do if my trash pickup day falls on Thanksgiving?
Waste Management only observes Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If your normal pickup falls on one of these holidays, your collection will be delayed, typically pushed back by one day for the remainder of that week.
Where can I recycle old paint and car batteries near Wright?
Household hazardous waste cannot go in your curbside bins. Wright residents can drop off these materials safely for free at the Okaloosa County Hazardous Waste facility located at 84 Ready Ave in neighboring Fort Walton Beach, open Tuesday through Saturday.