Clearwater Trash & Recycling Schedule
Official garbage collection rules, bin guidelines, and holiday schedules for residents of Clearwater, Florida.
Find Your Exact Pickup Days
Enter your street address on the official collection map to see your specific trash, recycling, and yard waste schedule.
📍 View Official Collection MapService Provider
City of Clearwater Solid Waste
Phone Number
727-562-4920Facility Address
1701 N Hercules Ave, Clearwater, FL 33765
Collection Schedule
Garbage and recycling are collected once a week using city-provided automated barrels.
Bin Colors
Black for garbage, Blue for recycling.
Guidelines & Rules
🎄 Holiday Delays
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day typically affect the pickup schedule by pushing it back one day.
🛋️ Bulk Waste Pickup
Up to 4 bulk items can be scheduled for pickup free of charge per month by calling Solid Waste.
⚠️ Important Guidelines
Clearwater operates its own solid waste transfer station and provides robust recycling programs for residents.
Comprehensive Guide & Details
Barrel Placement and Collection Logistics
The City of Clearwater Solid Waste Department requires residents to utilize the designated black barrel for all normal domestic refuse. To avoid skipped pickups, pull your container to the curb edge by 7:00 a.m. on your specific neighborhood route day. The lid needs to be firmly shut to discourage wildlife, and the handle should point directly toward your home. Make sure the container sits completely clear of low tree canopies, mailboxes, and parked automobiles to allow the mechanical lift mechanisms ample operating room.
Navigating the Blue Barrel Recycling System
Processing recyclables efficiently is a top priority for this Gulf Coast community. Clearwater distributes blue barrels intended strictly for single-stream sorting. You can freely toss in clean paper mail, cardboard, aluminum beverage tins, and rigid plastic jugs. Pinellas County sorting facilities are incredibly sensitive to plastic bag entanglement; therefore, you must keep all items completely loose. If a driver spots grocery sacks, greasy food boxes, or styrofoam inside the blue receptacle, they will affix a warning tag and bypass the home entirely.
Guidelines for Brush and Yard Waste
Keeping your lawn pristine generates significant organic debris. The city collects yard clippings on a weekly basis, provided they are prepared correctly. Leaves and small twigs can be placed inside heavy-duty trash bags or rigid personal cans. For larger tree limbs and cut palm fronds, you must tightly tie them into bundles measuring no longer than four feet. The total weight of any single bag or bundle must stay under 50 pounds to protect the sanitation workers who manually load the trucks.
Special Collections for Large Household Items
Discarding massive household goods like a damaged sofa or an old mattress requires a bit of planning. Clearwater offers residential bulk item collection, but homeowners must call the Solid Waste office in advance to schedule the extraction rather than just leaving items on the swale. Appliances containing refrigerants, such as freezers and window AC units, are also accepted for a nominal fee, provided the doors are completely removed to comply with strict child safety regulations.
Safely Disposing of Household Chemicals
Items classified as hazardous waste cannot be disposed of at the curb due to extreme environmental and fire risks. Clearwater residents must haul old computers, televisions, wet paint, pesticides, and motor oil directly to the Pinellas County Solid Waste Disposal Complex. This dedicated drop-off center ensures volatile substances are neutralized and recycled safely, keeping toxic elements out of the local aquifer and preventing catastrophic compactor truck fires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When is trash collected in Clearwater?
A: Garbage and recycling are collected once a week using city-provided automated barrels.
Q: How does the holiday schedule affect garbage pickup?
A: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day typically affect the pickup schedule by pushing it back one day.
Q: Which bins should I use for trash and recycling?
A: Black for garbage, Blue for recycling.
Q: How can I schedule a bulk waste pickup?
A: Up to 4 bulk items can be scheduled for pickup free of charge per month by calling Solid Waste.
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