Cortez Trash & Recycling Schedule
Official garbage collection rules, bin guidelines, and holiday schedules for residents of Cortez, 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
Manatee County Solid Waste
Phone Number
941-792-8811Facility Address
3333 Lena Rd, Bradenton, FL 34211
Collection Schedule
Garbage is collected twice weekly; recycling and yard waste once weekly.
Bin Colors
Black (Garbage), Blue (Recycling).
Guidelines & Rules
🎄 Holiday Delays
No collection on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day; schedules shift forward.
🛋️ Bulk Waste Pickup
Two free bulk pickups per year by appointment through the county.
⚠️ Important Guidelines
As an unincorporated CDP, Cortez is serviced by Manatee County's franchised haulers.
Comprehensive Guide & Details
Automated Cart Collection Rules
As an unincorporated community in Manatee County, Cortez utilizes the county's robust automated trash collection system. Residents must wheel their garbage carts to the curb early in the morning on their specific collection day. For the mechanical arms of the trucks to function properly, you must leave adequate space around the container, keeping it far away from parked cars, low-hanging branches, and mailboxes. Additionally, all waste must fit inside the bin with the lid fully closed; any bags left sitting on the ground or leaning against the cart will simply be ignored by the drivers.
Managing Recyclables Properly
The county operates a convenient single-stream recycling program that allows households to place all approved recyclables into one large 64-gallon cart without any tedious pre-sorting. Acceptable materials include flattened corrugated cardboard, aluminum cans, glass bottles, and specific plastic containers. If you recently moved in and need a recycling bin, you can easily order one directly through the online Customer Self-Service (CSS) portal. Just remember to keep items loose and absolutely never bag your recyclables, as plastic films wreak havoc on the specialized machinery at the sorting facility.
Specialized Bulk Item Disposal
When cleaning out your garage or upgrading your home furnishings, Cortez residents can take advantage of the local bulk collection program. Households are generally permitted to place up to two large bulky items—such as a mattress or an old sofa—at the curbside once per month on a designated zone day. However, discarded appliances, often referred to as white goods, as well as scrap tires, require special coordination. You must contact the county utilities department to actively schedule a pickup for these heavy items before dragging them out to the street.
Safe Hazardous Waste Drop-Off
Throwing toxic chemicals into your regular green garbage cart is strictly prohibited and highly dangerous. Items like old house paint, pool chemicals, used motor oil, and automotive batteries can easily start fires inside the collection vehicles or contaminate the local ecosystem. Cortez residents must transport their household hazardous waste directly to the Lena Road Landfill. The facility accepts these specialized materials Monday through Friday during standard business hours, and also offers convenient drop-off times on the third Saturday of every month to accommodate busy schedules.
Proper Yard Debris Handling
Preparing your landscaping trimmings correctly is the key to ensuring they are picked up without a hitch. Grass clippings, fallen leaves, and small twigs should be bagged or placed in designated yard waste cans. Larger tree limbs need to be cut down into manageable segments and securely bundled together with twine. Do not mix any household garbage or plastic materials into your yard waste piles. If the sanitation crews spot contamination or if the unbundled branches are excessively heavy, the debris will be tagged with a non-compliance notice and left on your lawn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When is trash collected in Cortez?
A: Garbage is collected twice weekly; recycling and yard waste once weekly.
Q: How does the holiday schedule affect garbage pickup?
A: No collection on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day; schedules shift forward.
Q: Which bins should I use for trash and recycling?
A: Black (Garbage), Blue (Recycling).
Q: How can I schedule a bulk waste pickup?
A: Two free bulk pickups per year by appointment through the county.
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