Miami Trash & Recycling Schedule
Official garbage collection rules, bin guidelines, and holiday schedules for residents of Miami, Florida.
Find Your Exact Pickup Days
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📍 View Official Collection MapService Provider
City of Miami Solid Waste Department
Phone Number
305-468-5900Facility Address
1290 NW 20th St, Miami, FL 33142
Collection Schedule
Garbage is collected twice a week, and recycling once a week using city-issued carts.
Bin Colors
Green for garbage, Blue for recycling.
Guidelines & Rules
🎄 Holiday Delays
The City provides regular service on all holidays except Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Christmas Day.
🛋️ Bulk Waste Pickup
Weekly bulky trash pickup up to 1 cubic yard; larger amounts require scheduling and a fee.
⚠️ Important Guidelines
Do not mix yard trash with garbage in the city-issued carts.
Comprehensive Guide & Details
Miami Garbage Collection Routes & Times
Keeping the vibrant neighborhoods of Miami clean relies on a consistent twice-weekly household garbage collection system provided by the City of Miami Solid Waste Department. Residents must ensure their city-issued green bins are rolled out to the curb between 12 and 24 hours prior to the scheduled morning pickup. To avoid any missed collections, all waste must be properly bagged before being placed inside the container, and the lid needs to close entirely. Make sure your bin is positioned at least five feet away from any potential obstacles, including parked vehicles, mailboxes, and streetlights. Once the collection trucks have serviced your address, you have a 24-hour window to pull your empty cart back onto your property to prevent receiving a code enforcement citation.
Local Recycling Rules for Miami Residents
The recycling program in Miami operates on a single-stream basis, meaning all acceptable materials can be co-mingled in your designated blue recycling cart. The city collects recyclables once every two weeks. When prepping your items, always remember to rinse out food residue from plastic bottles, glass jars, and metal cans. Cardboard boxes must be flattened to maximize space. One of the most critical rules to follow is to never place your recyclable items inside plastic trash bags, as flexible plastics will severely damage the processing facility's sorting equipment. Instead, simply toss your loose recyclables directly into the blue bin. Items like garden hoses, styrofoam, and clothing are strictly prohibited and belong in the standard garbage.
Bulky Trash and Large Appliance Disposal
When it is time to upgrade your living room furniture or clear out the garage, the City of Miami offers specialized bulky waste pickups to handle items that are too large for standard carts. This service accommodates household electronics, old mattresses, broken couches, and white goods like refrigerators and washing machines. When disposing of appliances with doors, you are legally required to remove the doors beforehand to prevent entrapment hazards. Bulky items should be neatly stacked in front of your own property the evening before your scheduled bulky route day. Do not mix construction materials, roofing tiles, or hazardous automotive parts with your bulk pile, as the crews will tag the pile and refuse to collect it.
Yard Debris Preparation and Collection
Miami's tropical climate means year-round lawn maintenance, making yard waste disposal an essential service for local homeowners. Clean yard trash, including palm fronds, grass clippings, and tree branches, is collected regularly but must be prepped according to strict municipal guidelines. All loose leaves and grass must be securely bagged or placed in personal heavy-duty containers. If you are trimming trees, the branches must be tied into manageable bundles that do not exceed three feet in length or weigh more than fifty pounds. It is extremely important to keep your yard waste completely separate from your regular household garbage and bulky furniture piles to ensure the materials can be appropriately mulched or composted.
Holiday Schedule Shifts and Customer Support
Throughout the year, the Solid Waste Department operates on a nearly uninterrupted schedule, with only two major holidays causing localized delays: Christmas Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. If your normal garbage, recycling, or bulky pickup day happens to fall on either of these two holidays, the crews will not be active. Instead, your waste will be collected on the very next regularly scheduled service day for your specific neighborhood. For all other federal holidays, including Thanksgiving and Independence Day, collection routes proceed exactly as normal. If you encounter a missed pickup or need a replacement cart, you can easily contact customer service by dialing 311 or calling the main dispatch at 305-960-2801.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When is trash collected in Miami?
A: Garbage is collected twice a week, and recycling once a week using city-issued carts.
Q: How does the holiday schedule affect garbage pickup?
A: The City provides regular service on all holidays except Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Christmas Day.
Q: Which bins should I use for trash and recycling?
A: Green for garbage, Blue for recycling.
Q: How can I schedule a bulk waste pickup?
A: Weekly bulky trash pickup up to 1 cubic yard; larger amounts require scheduling and a fee.
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