Tampa Trash Pickup Schedule, Recycling & Bulk 2026
Find your City of Tampa collection day, recycling schedule, SWEEP bulk pickup, yard waste, and holiday delays.
City of Tampa · Department of Solid Waste & Environmental Program Management · Updated March 2026
Find Your Tampa Collection Day
Select your collection day to instantly see your full weekly schedule — garbage, recycling, yard waste, SWEEP, and 2026 holiday impacts. Collection day varies by address — use the official lookup tool if you don’t know yours.
👈 Select your day above to see your complete Tampa collection schedule.
⚠ Don’t know your day? Use the official tampa.gov address lookup tool or call (813) 274-8811. More contact options ↓
⚠ Note: The City of Tampa does NOT run Wednesday routes for residential service. New Tampa residents are served by Hillsborough County — see details below.
Tampa Waste Collection — Quick Facts
The City of Tampa Department of Solid Waste & Environmental Program Management provides residential collection service to single-family homes and small multi-unit properties (up to 4 units) within city limits. All three streams — garbage, recycling, and yard waste — are collected weekly on the same day. There is no Wednesday residential route in Tampa.
Tampa’s Two Carts — What Goes Where
City of Tampa residential customers receive two city-issued 95-gallon carts. Both are collected on the same weekday, once per week. Tampa does not have a mandatory food-scrap organics program — food waste goes in the blue garbage cart. Recycling uses the green cart.
Blue Cart — Garbage
Non-recyclable household waste: food scraps, plastic bags, foam, diapers, pet waste. Overfilled carts will not be collected.
Weekly • Rate-basedGreen Cart — Recycling
Clean, empty, and loose recyclables: paper, cardboard, cans, glass, plastic bottles & jugs. Never bag recyclables.
Weekly • IncludedYard waste (leaves, grass, branches) is also collected weekly but must be placed separately from both carts — see the Yard Waste section below. Each household is limited to one blue and one green cart. Extra garbage pickups are available for $18.12 per cubic yard by calling (813) 274-8811.
⏰ Set-Out Rules
- Carts must be placed curbside no later than 6:00 a.m. on collection day (place out the evening before to be safe).
- Cart lid must be fully closed. Overfilled or open-lid carts will not be serviced.
- At least 3 feet of clearance on all sides from vehicles, mailboxes, and other obstacles.
- Remove carts from the curb the same day by sunset and store out of view from the street.
- Recycling carts do not need to go out every week — wait until the cart is full before placing it out.
Tampa Yard Waste Collection — Weekly Curbside Service
The City of Tampa collects yard waste once per week on the same day as your garbage and recycling. Yard waste must be placed curbside separately from your carts and separately from your S.W.E.E.P. bulk pile. Collected yard waste is transported to a contracted facility for mulching and composting.
✅ Accepted Yard Waste
- Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- Branches and tree limbs (cut to manageable lengths)
- Shrubs and garden plants
- Up to 4 cubic yards per collection day
- Must be in an approved container, paper bag, or bundled
🚫 Not Accepted as Yard Waste
- Plastic bags — even to contain yard waste
- Grocery store paper bags
- Lumber, fencing, or treated/painted wood
- Soil, rocks, or dirt
- Landscaping company debris — commercial haulers only
🎄 Christmas Tree Collection 2026
The City of Tampa offers free curbside Christmas tree collection beginning on Friday, January 2, 2026 (and annually from the first collection day after Christmas) through mid-January. To use this service: remove all decorations, lights, tinsel, and ornaments; cut limbs to 4-foot lengths and bundle; place curbside on your regular yard waste collection day. All lights and decorations are not recyclable and must go in the blue garbage cart.
Tampa Holiday Trash Collection Schedule 2026
The City of Tampa observes several holidays each year with adjusted collection service. When a holiday falls on a collection day, that day’s service is suspended and collected on the next day. While the city guarantees at least one pickup per week during holiday weeks, it cannot guarantee twice-weekly service. Monday routes are most frequently impacted.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Impact | What Happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thu, Jan 1 | Delayed | Thu collection suspended → collected Fri, Jan 2. Normal schedules resume Fri, Jan 2. |
| MLK Day | Mon, Jan 19 | Delayed | Monday collection suspended. No service Mon; resumes Tue, Jan 20. Tue–Fri: normal that week. |
| Presidents’ Day | Mon, Feb 16 | Normal | City works. All routes collected as normal. |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25 | Check with City | Based on prior years, Monday routes typically delayed. Verify at tampa.gov/solid-waste. |
| Juneteenth | Fri, Jun 19 | Delayed | Based on 2025 pattern: Friday collection suspended. Verify official notice at tampa.gov closer to date. |
| Independence Day | Fri, Jul 4 | Check with City | Based on 2025, Friday routes were suspended on Jul 4. Monitor tampa.gov for official 2026 notice. |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7 | Delayed | Monday collection suspended. All routes that week shift one day later. |
| Veterans’ Day | Wed, Nov 11 | Normal | City works. All residential routes collected as normal. |
| Thanksgiving | Thu, Nov 26 | Delayed | Based on prior years, Thursday and Friday routes delayed. Monitor tampa.gov for official notice. |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 | Delayed | Friday collection suspended → collected Sat, Dec 26 (based on 2025 pattern). |
Tampa Recycling — What Goes in the Green Cart
Tampa uses single-stream recycling collected weekly in the green cart. All items must be clean, empty, dry, and placed loose (never bagged). Only use the specific accepted items list below — do not rely on the plastic resin number or chasing-arrows symbol as a guide. Items smaller than your fist are not accepted — they fall through sorting equipment. The City’s contracted processor is WM.
✅ Accepted in the Green Cart
- Mixed paper: mail, office paper, newspaper, magazines
- Corrugated cardboard — flattened; don’t jam into cart
- Paperboard: cereal boxes, paper rolls, snack boxes
- Plastic bottles and jugs — empty and rinsed (remove caps/lids)
- Aluminum and steel beverage cans and food tins — empty and rinsed
- Glass bottles and jars — empty and rinsed
- Paper envelopes with acetate windows (accepted)
🚫 Never in the Green Cart
- Plastic bags or film → grocery store drop-off only
- Styrofoam / polystyrene
- Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, soiled napkins) → blue garbage cart
- Electronics or batteries of any kind → HHW drop-off
- Tanglers: hoses, cords, wire hangers
- Aseptic cartons (juice boxes, soup cartons) — not accepted locally
- Items smaller than your fist (caps, lids, straws, shredded paper)
- Scrap metal → blue garbage cart or private recycler
♻ Recycling Drop-Off Stations
For additional recycling capacity, the City of Tampa maintains recycling drop-off stations at select locations. All cardboard must be folded, flattened, and placed inside the container. Visit tampa.gov/recycling drop-off for current locations and hours.
Tampa S.W.E.E.P. — Free Annual Bulk Item Pickup
The City of Tampa’s Solid Waste Enhanced Environmental Program (S.W.E.E.P.) provides each eligible household with one free curbside bulk pickup per year of up to 10 cubic yards of extra or bulky items. The service runs on a fixed neighborhood schedule throughout the year. S.W.E.E.P. is available to residents of single-family homes and multi-unit properties of four units or fewer with active City solid waste accounts.
📅 How to Use S.W.E.E.P.
- Find your scheduled S.W.E.E.P. date using the official address lookup at tampa.gov/sweep or by calling (813) 274-8811.
- Place items curbside by 6:00 a.m. on your S.W.E.E.P. date. Keep the pile separate from your regular carts and yard waste.
- If your S.W.E.E.P. date has passed or you need a sooner pickup, schedule a special curbside pickup for $17.26 per cubic yard via Tampa Connect or by calling (813) 274-8811.
- Alternatively, self-haul items to the McKay Bay Transfer Station at 112 S. 34th St. for free if you have an active residential solid waste account. See details below.
✅ Accepted in S.W.E.E.P.
- Furniture: sofas, chairs, tables, dressers, bed frames
- Mattresses and box springs
- Large appliances (fridge, washer, dryer, AC units)
- Carpeting and rugs
- Large volume yard trimmings
- Miscellaneous bulky household items
- Up to 10 cubic yards total per annual appointment
🚫 Not Accepted in S.W.E.E.P.
- Car parts, tires, or engines
- Construction or demolition debris
- Hazardous materials → HHW drop-off
- Cardboard → flatten and place in green recycling cart
- Commercial or business waste
- More than 10 cubic yards (additional cubic yards charged at standard rate)
Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Drop-Off
The City of Tampa does not operate its own HHW facility. Instead, Tampa has contracted with Hillsborough County to allow City residents to use county HHW facilities at no charge. Bring a state-issued photo ID showing a Hillsborough County residential address. The City no longer hosts an annual standalone HHW event.
🚩 Northwest County Solid Waste Facility
8001 W. Linebaugh Ave., Tampa
HHW accepted on select Saturdays, 8 AM–2 PM • Mon–Sat 7:30 AM–5 PM for recycling drop-off
🚩 Sheldon Road HHW Collection Center
9805 Sheldon Rd., Tampa
HHW accepted first Saturday of the month, 8 AM–2 PM
🚩 Hillsborough Heights Solid Waste Facility
Hillsborough County
HHW accepted third Saturday of the month, 8 AM–2 PM
🚩 South County Solid Waste Facility
13000 U.S. Hwy 41, Gibsonton
HHW accepted on select Saturdays, 8 AM–2 PM • Call (813) 272-5680 to confirm schedule
✅ Accepted at HHW Facilities
- Electronics: TVs, computers, monitors, phones, printers
- Rechargeable and automotive batteries
- Paint: latex and oil-based, stain, varnish
- Household chemicals, pool chemicals, solvents
- Motor oil, antifreeze, automotive fluids
- Fluorescent and CFL bulbs, aerosol cans
- Poison, flammable, corrosive, or reactive household products
🚫 Not Accepted at HHW Facilities
- Alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V) → regular garbage
- Explosives → contact local law enforcement
- Radioactive materials → Florida Dept. of Health
- Commercial or business waste
- Furniture, appliances, or household garbage
- Tires (separate disposal, see McKay Bay)
New Tampa, Tampa Palms & Hunter’s Green — Hillsborough County Service
Residents of New Tampa, Tampa Palms, and Hunter’s Green receive solid waste services through Hillsborough County Solid Waste Management, not the City of Tampa Solid Waste Department. This includes garbage, recycling, yard waste, holiday schedules, and bulk waste disposal.
📞 Hillsborough County Solid Waste — New Tampa Contact
- Phone: (813) 272-5680 — Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM
- Email: SolidWaste@HCFL.gov
- Find your schedule: hcfl.gov — Find My Trash & Recycling Schedule
- Holiday schedule: hcfl.gov holiday collection schedule
For New Tampa, there are no holiday make-up days. If your collection falls on a holiday, service resumes on your next regularly scheduled collection day.
McKay Bay Transfer Station — Free Self-Haul for Tampa Residents
City of Tampa residential customers with an active solid waste account can self-haul large items, furniture, mattresses, yard waste, and appliances to McKay Bay for free. This is a great alternative if your S.W.E.E.P. date has passed or you have more than 10 cubic yards to dispose of (standard commercial fees apply above the residential allowance).
🏭 McKay Bay Scale House
- Address: 114 South 34th Street, Tampa, FL 33605
- Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 7 AM–5:30 PM • Wednesday & Saturday: 7 AM–3:30 PM
- Closed: Sunday and on major City holidays
- Bring proof of active City of Tampa residential solid waste account
- Some charges may apply for certain materials — call (813) 274-8811 in advance
What to Do If Your Trash Wasn’t Collected in Tampa
- Confirm your collection day — use the official address lookup at tampa.gov/service/trash-garbage-pickup-schedule or call (813) 274-8811. Confirm you are a City of Tampa customer (not Hillsborough County / New Tampa).
- Check for a holiday delay. New Year’s, MLK Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas can cause service to be suspended on the affected day.
- Verify cart placement: out by 6:00 a.m., lid fully closed, at least 3 feet from all obstacles, opening accessible from the street.
- Wait until 3:00 p.m. before reporting — collection may run into the evening on busy routes. If not collected by 3 PM, report the missed service.
- Report missed pickup by calling (813) 274-8811 (option 3) or via the Tampa Connect online Customer Service Center.
Tampa Trash & Recycling Tips Every Resident Should Know
🏠 New to Tampa or Just Moved In?
Use the official address lookup at tampa.gov or call (813) 274-8811 to find your collection day and confirm whether you are a City or County (New Tampa) customer. Download the Tampa Trash and Recycling App (free on iOS and Android) for schedule reminders and holiday alerts. Your blue garbage cart and green recycling cart should already be at your address — if missing, call (813) 274-8811 option 3.
🌊 Hurricane Season Preparedness
- During severe weather watches, bring carts inside — unsecured carts become projectiles in high winds.
- After a storm, do not place debris in regular carts until the City announces special storm debris collection procedures.
- The McKay Bay Transfer Station may extend hours before major storms to allow debris drop-off.
- Monitor tampa.gov/solid-waste and sign up for AlertTampa emergency notifications.
🚫 5 Common Mistakes Tampa Residents Make
- Putting aseptic cartons (juice boxes, soup cartons) in the green recycling cart — Tampa does not accept them
- Placing items in plastic bags inside the recycling cart — everything must be loose
- Assuming New Tampa uses City of Tampa services — it uses Hillsborough County
- Missing the S.W.E.E.P. date and not knowing about the McKay Bay Transfer Station as an alternative
- Placing yard waste in carts or plastic bags — it must be in paper bags, containers, or bundled
Contact Tampa Solid Waste & Waste Services
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| City of Tampa Utilities Call Center | 📞 (813) 274-8811 — Garbage, recycling, yard waste, missed pickups, cart requests, S.W.E.E.P. scheduling, extra pickups |
| Solid Waste Department Admin | (813) 348-1146 • 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Mon–Fri • 4010 West Spruce Street, Tampa, FL 33607 |
| Address Lookup (Schedule) | tampa.gov/service/trash-garbage-pickup-schedule — Find your collection day by address |
| S.W.E.E.P. Schedule Lookup | tampa.gov/service/sweep-pickup-schedule — Find your annual bulk pickup date |
| Tampa Trash & Recycling App | Free iOS & Android app — schedule lookup, holiday alerts, disposal guide, missed pickup reports |
| Tampa Connect (Online) | Tampa Customer Service Center — submit missed pickups, extra pickup requests, cart orders online |
| McKay Bay Transfer Station | 114 S. 34th St., Tampa • (813) 274-8811 • Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 7 AM–5:30 PM, Wed & Sat 7 AM–3:30 PM • Free for active City residents |
| HHW Drop-Off (via Hillsborough County) | (813) 272-5680 • hcfl.gov — HHW locations & dates • Select Saturdays, 8 AM–2 PM |
| Hillsborough County (New Tampa) | 📞 (813) 272-5680 • hcfl.gov — For New Tampa, Tampa Palms, Hunter’s Green |
Frequently Asked Questions — Tampa Trash Pickup
Still Can’t Find Your Collection Day?
If the Collection Day Finder above and the information on this page haven’t resolved your question, use the official City of Tampa tools below. Enter your address to find your exact trash day, yard waste day, S.W.E.E.P. date, and whether you are a City or Hillsborough County customer.
🔍 Official City of Tampa Lookup & Contact Options
All of the following are free, and most are available 24/7 or during City business hours:
🔍 Trash Schedule Lookup 📞 Call (813) 274-8811| Garbage/Trash Schedule Lookup | tampa.gov/service/trash-garbage-pickup-schedule — Enter your address to find your collection day |
| Yard Waste Schedule Lookup | tampa.gov/service/yard-waste-pickup-schedule — Enter your address for yard waste pickup day |
| S.W.E.E.P. Schedule Lookup | tampa.gov/service/sweep-pickup-schedule — Find your annual bulk pickup date by address |
| City Utilities Call Center | (813) 274-8811 — Missed pickups, cart issues, schedule questions, extra pickup requests, S.W.E.E.P. |
| Tampa Trash & Recycling App | Free iOS & Android app — search “Tampa Trash and Recycling” — personalized schedules, reminders, and disposal guide |
| Solid Waste Website | tampa.gov/solid-waste — Holiday notices, recycling guide, S.W.E.E.P. info, backyard composting program |
| New Tampa / Hillsborough County | (813) 272-5680 • hcfl.gov — For New Tampa, Tampa Palms, Hunter’s Green residents |
You will leave this website when using any of the links above. The official City of Tampa address lookup is the most accurate source for your specific collection schedule.
Trash & Recycling Schedules for Other US Cities
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