Miami Trash Pickup Schedule, Recycling & Bulk 2026
Find your City of Miami collection group, recycling week, and bulk pickup rules — including the twice-weekly garbage service that sets Miami apart from every other major US city.
City of Miami · Department of Solid Waste · Updated March 2026
Find Your Miami Collection Group
Miami garbage is collected twice per week. Select your first garbage day and your recycling week to instantly see your complete 2026 schedule.
👈 Select your garbage day and recycling week above to see your complete Miami schedule.
⚠ Don’t know your group? Use the official schedule lookup at miami.gov, the Miami 311 app (iOS/Android), or call 311 (305-468-5900 outside city). See all contact options ↓
Miami Waste Collection — Quick Facts
The City of Miami Department of Solid Waste serves single-family homes and smaller residential buildings within city limits. Miami stands out from virtually every other major US city with twice-weekly garbage collection — your garbage is picked up two days every week. Recycling is collected separately, once per week on a biweekly rotation by collection group.
How Miami’s Collection Group System Works
The City of Miami organizes collection into 10 groups based on your garbage days and your recycling week. Your garbage is collected twice per week — typically on two non-consecutive days. Your recycling is collected once per week, but only on weeks 1 & 3 or weeks 2 & 4 of each month, depending on your group.
Your collection group is address-based. The quickest way to find yours is the official schedule lookup at miami.gov or the Miami 311 app.
| Group | Garbage Days | Recycling Day & Weeks | Bulk Pickup Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 1&3 | Mon Thu | Mon — Weeks 1 & 3 | Monday |
| Mon 2&4 | Mon Thu | Mon — Weeks 2 & 4 | Monday |
| Tue 1&3 | Tue Fri | Tue — Weeks 1 & 3 | Tuesday |
| Tue 2&4 | Tue Fri | Tue — Weeks 2 & 4 | Tuesday |
| Wed 1&3 | Wed Sat | Wed — Weeks 1 & 3 | Wednesday |
| Wed 2&4 | Wed Sat | Wed — Weeks 2 & 4 | Wednesday |
| Thu 1&3 | Mon Thu | Thu — Weeks 1 & 3 | Thursday |
| Thu 2&4 | Mon Thu | Thu — Weeks 2 & 4 | Thursday |
| Fri 1&3 | Tue Fri | Fri — Weeks 1 & 3 | Friday |
| Fri 2&4 | Tue Fri | Fri — Weeks 2 & 4 | Friday |
⏰ Set-Out Rules — Both Service Days
- Place carts at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on each of your two garbage days — and on recycling and bulk days.
- Cart wheels must face toward your home; lid opening must face toward the street.
- Keep carts at least 5 feet from mailboxes, parked cars, trees, and utility poles.
- Cart lids must be fully closed. Overfilled carts may not be collected.
- Bring carts back after collection — do not leave them at the curb permanently.
- The green garbage cart (96-gal standard) can be exchanged for a 35-gal or 65-gal cart — call 311. You may also request one additional blue recycling cart at no charge.
Miami Holiday Collection Schedule 2026 — Only 2 Delays
The City of Miami Solid Waste Department suspends collection for only two holidays all year: MLK Day and Christmas Day. All other major holidays — New Year’s Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Veterans’ Day — are fully normal collection days.
When collection is suspended, all services shift to your next scheduled collection day in your group that same week — garbage, recycling (if scheduled), and bulk all move together.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Impact | What Happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thu, Jan 1 | Normal | City of Miami Solid Waste works. Full collection on schedule. |
| MLK Day | Mon, Jan 19 | Suspended | No collection on Monday, Jan 19. Mon groups: garbage, recycling (if scheduled), and bulk all shift to next scheduled day in your group. Example confirmed: Mon customers notified to resume Tuesday, Jan 20, 2026. |
| Presidents’ Day | Mon, Feb 16 | Normal | Full collection on schedule. |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25 | Normal | Full collection on schedule. |
| Independence Day | Sat, Jul 4 | Normal | City of Miami works on Independence Day. Wed/Sat group: Saturday July 4 collection runs on schedule. |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7 | Normal | Full collection on schedule. |
| Veterans’ Day | Wed, Nov 11 | Normal | Full collection on schedule. |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26 | Normal | City of Miami works on Thanksgiving. Thu collection runs on schedule. |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 | Suspended | No collection on Friday, Dec 25. Fri groups: all services shift to next scheduled day. Mon/Thu groups: Friday component is not affected (Friday Dec 25 = Christmas only). Check your group in the app. |
Miami Recycling — What Goes in the Blue Cart
City of Miami residents use the blue cart for single-stream recycling, collected every other week (weeks 1&3 or 2&4, depending on your group) on one of your two garbage days. Items must be placed loose — never in plastic bags. Bags jam sorting machinery and cause entire cart loads to go to the landfill.
Keep the lid closed and the cart at least 5 feet from obstacles and parked cars. Cart wheels should face your home, lid opening toward the street — same as the green garbage cart.
✅ Accepted in the Blue Recycling Cart
- Paper: newspapers, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, office paper, paper bags, phone books
- Cardboard: corrugated boxes (flattened), cereal boxes, paperboard — dry only
- Aluminum and steel cans — rinsed
- Glass bottles and jars — all colors, rinsed
- Plastic bottles and jugs — rinsed
- Milk cartons and juice boxes
🚫 Never in the Blue Cart
- Plastic bags or plastic film → retail store drop-off
- Styrofoam / polystyrene
- Food-soiled containers — rinse all items first
- Batteries → Miami-Dade HHW Centers
- Electronics → Miami-Dade HHW Centers (FL law prohibits e-waste in landfill)
- Light bulbs, ceramics, or garden hoses
- Any recyclables in plastic bags
Miami Bulk Item Pickup — Free, Once Weekly
Free once-weekly curbside bulk item collection is included in all City of Miami residential service. Bulk pickup occurs on your first garbage day of the week (Monday for Mon/Thu groups, Tuesday for Tue/Fri groups, Wednesday for Wed/Sat groups). No appointment is needed for regular bulk items — simply place them at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your designated bulk day.
📌 Bulk Item Set-Out Rules
- Place bulk items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your first garbage day.
- Place items within 10 feet of the street and at least 5 feet from mailboxes, parked cars, trees, and utility poles.
- A 15-foot vertical clearance is required from the ground to the lowest hanging tree branch or power line above the items.
- Keep bulk items separate from your garbage and recycling carts.
- Items must be manageable — nothing embedded in the ground, attached to structures, or exceeding safe lifting limits.
✅ Accepted Bulk Items
- Furniture: sofas, chairs, tables, dressers
- Mattresses and box springs
- Large appliances (doors removed from refrigerators and freezers)
- Electronics: TVs, computers (place curbside for bulk; also accepted at Miami-Dade HHW Centers)
- Rugs and carpeting (rolled)
- Yard waste in large volumes (bundles or bags)
- Scrap metal and large household items
🚫 Not Accepted in Bulk
- Construction or demolition debris (concrete, tile, drywall)
- Rocks, dirt, or sand
- Automotive parts, batteries, or oil
- Hazardous materials (paint, chemicals, propane tanks) → Miami-Dade HHW Centers
- Contractor-generated waste
- Free-flowing liquids
Hazardous Waste & Electronics — Miami-Dade County Centers
The City of Miami does not operate its own HHW facilities. Instead, all City of Miami residents can use Miami-Dade County’s 13 Home Chemical Collection Centers (HCCCs), open daily 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., free of charge. Miami-Dade also holds periodic mobile e-waste collection events throughout the year at various community locations.
📍 Finding Miami-Dade HHW & E-Waste Locations
Miami-Dade County operates 13 Home Chemical Collection Centers across the county. Find current locations, hours, and upcoming mobile e-waste event dates at:
- miamidade.gov/solidwaste — complete list of all 13 HHW/e-waste locations
- Call 305-514-6666 (Miami-Dade Solid Waste) for the nearest open center and upcoming mobile events
- Call 311 (305-468-5900) and request Miami-Dade HCCC location information
✅ Accepted at Miami-Dade HCCCs
- Electronics: computers, phones, TVs, monitors, printers, tablets
- All batteries (rechargeable and single-use)
- Oil-based paints, stains, and varnishes
- Motor oil and automotive fluids
- Pesticides, herbicides, and pool chemicals
- Fluorescent and CFL bulbs
- Propane tanks and compressed gas cylinders
- Solvents, cleaners, and thinners
🚫 Not Accepted at HCCCs
- Latex paint → dry completely, then garbage
- Business or commercial waste
- Explosives, ammunition, fireworks
- Radioactive materials
- Medical or biomedical waste
- Tires → tire retailers
Miami Storm & Hurricane Debris Protocol
Miami is in one of the most hurricane-active regions in the US. When a named storm affects the area, the City of Miami Solid Waste Department may suspend regular collection for 1 to 3 days. Understanding the storm debris rules is critical — mixing storm debris with regular garbage causes major collection problems.
🔌 Before & During a Storm
- Do not put garbage carts or bulk items out before or during a named storm — unsecured carts become projectiles in high winds.
- Bring green and blue carts inside or secure them until the storm passes and the City officially announces collection has resumed.
- Monitor miami.gov and the Miami 311 app for service suspension and resumption announcements.
🌿 After a Storm — Storm Debris Rules
- Do not mix storm debris with regular household garbage. Storm debris (tree limbs, branches, yard material blown in) is handled by a separate debris collection operation and must be kept separate from your green garbage cart and bulk items.
- Place tree limbs and yard debris in a separate pile at the curb — do not bundle or bag it (storm debris trucks use grapple arms).
- Storm debris collection typically begins 48–72 hours after a storm once roads are passable. The City will announce the start of operations.
- Regular garbage and recycling collection resumes on its normal schedule once the City announces it is safe. Your first makeup collection after a suspension follows your regular group schedule.
What to Do If Your Trash Wasn’t Collected in Miami
- Confirm your collection group and recycling week. Use the official schedule lookup at miami.gov or the Miami 311 app. Verify which of your two garbage days the miss occurred on, and whether recycling was scheduled for that week.
- Check for a holiday suspension. Only MLK Day and Christmas Day suspend Miami collection. All other holidays are normal service days. If MLK Day (Mon, Jan 19) affected your route, service resumed Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
- Check for a storm delay. After any named storm, collection may be suspended 1–3 days. Do not report a missed pickup during a declared storm suspension — wait for the City to announce resumption.
- Verify cart placement: out by 7:00 a.m., wheels toward home, lid toward street, 5 feet from obstacles, lid fully closed.
- Report within 3 business days by calling 311 (305-468-5900) or using the Miami 311 app. After 3 business days, the makeup window typically closes. For Solid Waste specifically, you can also email solidwaste@miamigov.com or call 305-960-2801.
Miami Trash & Recycling Tips Every Resident Should Know
🏠 New to Miami or Just Moved In?
Use the official schedule lookup at miami.gov to confirm your collection group and recycling week. Download the Miami 311 app for automatic holiday alerts and schedule reminders. Green and blue carts should already be at your address — call 311 if missing. Moving into a newly built home? Contact the Residential Billing Unit at 305-594-1630 before your first collection week to set up service. Reminder: Miami works on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving — the City only skips MLK Day and Christmas.
☀ Miami Heat & Humidity (Year-Round)
- Miami’s tropical climate means garbage decomposes and attracts insects very quickly. Bag all garbage inside the green cart and ensure the lid is fully closed at all times.
- With twice-weekly garbage collection, Miami residents have one of the best garbage frequency services in the US — use both days to manage heat-related decomposition.
- Carts in direct sun can become very hot. Keep cart areas ventilated where possible and rinse carts periodically to prevent odor buildup.
🚫 5 Mistakes Miami Residents Make
- Putting recyclables in plastic bags inside the blue cart — the entire load goes to the landfill; loose only
- Mixing storm debris with regular garbage after a hurricane — crews may skip your address entirely
- Putting electronics (TVs, computers) in the green garbage cart — illegal under Florida law; use Miami-Dade HHW Centers
- Not knowing which of the 10 collection groups they belong to — verify at miami.gov or in the Miami 311 app
- Expecting a delay on Memorial Day, Labor Day, or Thanksgiving — Miami works on all of these
Contact Miami Solid Waste & 311
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| Miami 311 | Dial 3-1-1 inside Miami, or 305-468-5900 from outside — missed pickups, schedule questions, cart requests, bulk reports, all non-emergency city services |
| Miami 311 App | Free iOS & Android — schedule lookup, collection group confirmation, recycling calendar, missed pickup reports, holiday alerts |
| Solid Waste Department | 📞 305-960-2801 · 📧 solidwaste@miamigov.com · 1290 NW 20th Street, Miami 33142 |
| Schedule Lookup & Recycling Calendars | miami.gov — View Garbage, Recycling & Bulky Schedules · PDF calendars by group |
| Residential Billing Unit | 📞 305-594-1630 — new service setup for newly constructed homes, billing questions |
| Miami-Dade HHW & E-Waste | 📞 305-514-6666 · miamidade.gov/solidwaste — 13 Home Chemical Collection Centers, daily 7 a.m.–5:30 p.m. & mobile events |
| Miami-Dade (Outside City) | 📞 305-514-6666 — if you live outside City of Miami limits (Hialeah, Doral, Coral Gables, Miami Beach, etc.) |
Frequently Asked Questions — Miami Trash Pickup
Still Can’t Find Your Collection Group?
If the Collection Day Finder above and all the information on this page haven’t resolved your question, use the City of Miami’s official address-based schedule lookup. It shows your exact collection group, both garbage days, recycling week, and bulk day. Calling 311 is the most direct option for immediate answers.
🔍 Official City of Miami Schedule Lookup & Contact
All of the following are free and will confirm your exact collection group and schedule:
🔍 Open Schedule Lookup 📞 Call 311 — 305-468-5900| Schedule Lookup | miami.gov — View Garbage, Recycling & Bulky Schedules — enter your address to see your collection group, both garbage days, recycling week, and bulk day. |
| PDF Recycling Calendars | miami.gov/recycling-calendars — download your group’s 2026 recycling calendar with all dates and holiday adjustments marked. |
| Miami 311 | Dial 3-1-1 inside Miami or 305-468-5900 from outside — schedule questions, missed pickups, cart requests, bulk info. |
| Miami 311 App | Free iOS & Android — collection group lookup, recycling calendar, holiday alerts, missed pickup reporting. |
| Solid Waste Department | 📞 305-960-2801 · 📧 solidwaste@miamigov.com · 1290 NW 20th St, Miami 33142 |
You will leave this website when using any of the links above.
Trash & Recycling Schedules for Cities Near Miami
Looking for waste collection information in another southeastern city? Here are the five closest cities we’ve already covered: