Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Zephyrhills
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 Z-Cart Bin (Trash)
Carts must be at the curb by 6:00 a.m. Maintain at least 3 feet of clearance around the cart. Place the cart with the handle facing away from the street (towards the house). Carts filled beyond capacity with lids unable to fully close will not be collected.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable wrappers and packaging
Blue 65-Gallon Cart Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is collected bi-weekly on Wednesdays. Materials must be placed loosely inside the blue cart. Do not mix household trash with recyclables. Remove all caps and nozzles from plastic bottles before recycling.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum and metal cans
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and small containers (#1–#7)
- ✓Clean cardboard and paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic caps and nozzles (must be thrown in trash)
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Styrofoam
Yard Waste Bin
Branches must be cut to 3-4 feet in length and tied with twine or rope. Bundles cannot exceed 6 inches in diameter. Leaves must be bagged with a strict limit of 10 bags per pickup. Must be kept 3 feet away from the Z-Cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged leaves
- ✓Bagged grass clippings
- ✓Bundled branches and limbs
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Not provided via standard curbside service
Placement
Residents must self-haul large items to the county transfer station or contract a private junk removal service.
Accepted
- ✓ No bulk items collected curbside by the city
Not Accepted
- ✕ Furniture
- ✕ Mattresses
- ✕ Appliances
- ✕ Televisions
- ✕ Tires
For massive home cleanouts or construction, residents can request and pay for a temporary commercial Roll-Off Dumpster through the city by submitting a Hold Harmless Agreement.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
The City of Zephyrhills publishes an annual Holiday Trash Pickup schedule. Generally, if your pickup day falls on a major holiday, your collection will be rescheduled to a specific makeup day (often the Wednesday of that week or pushed back one day).
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the same holiday suspension rules as household garbage.
Residents should always check the Zephyrhills Public Works website or call 813-780-0022 prior to major holidays, as exact makeup days can vary from year to year.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Throw Away Plastic Caps and Nozzles
Unlike many neighboring programs, Zephyrhills specifically requires residents to remove and throw away all plastic caps, spray nozzles, and pump tops from bottles and jugs before placing the empty containers in the blue recycling cart.
Keep the Lids Closed
The automated mechanical arms on Zephyrhills' collection trucks require cart lids to be completely flat. If you overfill your green or blue cart and the lid remains propped open, the city will issue a 'Non-Pick-up Notice' and leave the bin behind.
Fluorescent Bulbs Are Hazardous
Never put fluorescent light bulbs or tubes in your green garbage cart. They contain mercury and are considered hazardous waste. Take them to a Pasco County drop-off location.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June - NovemberIf a severe storm or hurricane warning is issued for Pasco County, cease all major yard pruning. Do not place yard waste bundles or loose bags at the curb, as high winds will turn them into dangerous projectiles.
Spring and Fall
March - May & September - NovemberDuring peak growing seasons, remember the strict 10-bag limit for leaves and clippings. If you generate more than 10 bags of yard waste, you must stagger your set-outs across multiple collection days or haul the excess to the transfer station.
About Zephyrhills Waste Management
Twice-Weekly Household Trash Collection
The City of Zephyrhills Public Works Department manages its own municipal sanitation fleet, providing robust twice-a-week garbage collection to nearly 7,000 households. Residents are provided with green automated 'Z-Carts' for their household trash. Depending on your specific neighborhood zone, your collection days will either be Monday and Thursday, or Tuesday and Friday. Bins must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. with the lid completely closed and the handle facing your house.
The Transition to 65-Gallon Recycling Carts
Zephyrhills is currently upgrading its residential recycling program to an automated system. The city is replacing the old 18-gallon open bins with new 65-gallon blue recycling carts. Collection occurs every other Wednesday. Residents can simply place their old 18-gallon bins inside the new 65-gallon carts for disposal or keep them for personal storage. The automated trucks require at least three feet of clearance around the blue cart to operate safely.
Strict Preparation Rules for Yard Waste
Managing yard waste in Pasco County requires homeowners to follow strict dimensional guidelines. Zephyrhills crews will collect yard debris, provided branches are cut to lengths of 3 to 4 feet and bundled using twine or rope. The bundles must not exceed 6 inches in diameter. If you are bagging leaves or grass clippings, you are strictly limited to 10 bags per pickup. Yard waste must be kept at least three feet away from your green Z-Cart.
Pasco County Facilities for Bulk and Hazardous Waste
The City of Zephyrhills curbside service does not collect large bulk items, hazardous chemicals, or electronic waste (e-waste) such as TVs, microwaves, paints, or car batteries. Residents must transport these items to the Pasco County East Pasco Transfer Station, located nearby in Dade City at 9626 Handcart Road. For large home cleanouts, residents may also arrange for private bulky item pickups or rent roll-off construction containers through the city.
Drop-off Facilities
East Pasco Transfer Station
9626 Handcart Road, Dade City, FL 33525
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Zephyrhills pick up bulk trash like mattresses or couches?
No. The City of Zephyrhills does not provide curbside bulk trash pickup. Residents must transport large items, furniture, and appliances to the East Pasco Transfer Station in Dade City or hire a private junk hauling service.
What is the rule for yard waste collection in Zephyrhills?
Yard waste must be properly prepared. Branches must be cut to 3 to 4 feet in length, bundled with twine, and measure no more than 6 inches in diameter. If you bag leaves or grass, there is a strict limit of 10 bags per pickup.
Where should I place my automated Z-Cart for pickup?
Place your green or blue cart at the curb by 6:00 a.m. Ensure the cart's handle is facing your house (away from the street). You must leave at least three feet of clearance around the cart so the automated truck arm can safely grab it.
Can I leave the caps on my plastic bottles for recycling?
No. The City of Zephyrhills specifically requires residents to remove all plastic caps, spray nozzles, and pump tops from bottles and jugs, and throw them in the regular garbage before placing the empty container in the blue recycling cart.