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

⭐ Collection Day Finder

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.

At a Glance

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.

🗑
Garbage
Weekly
Blue cart, by address
Recycling
Weekly
Green cart, single-stream
🌿
Yard Waste
Weekly
Containerized / bundled
📦
S.W.E.E.P. Bulk
Once per year
Up to 10 cu yds free
Set-Out Time
By 6:00 a.m.
Cart out by 6 AM; remove same day
⚠ City of Tampa ≠ Hillsborough County. Only properties within City of Tampa limits use this department. New Tampa (including Tampa Palms and Hunter’s Green) is served by Hillsborough County Solid Waste at (813) 272-5680. If you have a blue garbage cart and a green recycling cart with the City of Tampa logo, you are a City customer. Verify your address ↓
Two-Cart System

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-based

Green Cart — Recycling

Clean, empty, and loose recyclables: paper, cardboard, cans, glass, plastic bottles & jugs. Never bag recyclables.

Weekly • Included

Yard 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.
Yard Waste

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.

💡 Landscaping companies must haul their own debris. Per City Ordinance Sec. 26-148(6), landscaping contractors are responsible for hauling away all waste they generate at residential work sites. Curbside yard waste service is only for waste generated by the resident themselves.
Holiday Schedule

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.

Holiday2026 DateImpactWhat Happens
New Year’s DayThu, Jan 1DelayedThu collection suspended → collected Fri, Jan 2. Normal schedules resume Fri, Jan 2.
MLK DayMon, Jan 19DelayedMonday collection suspended. No service Mon; resumes Tue, Jan 20. Tue–Fri: normal that week.
Presidents’ DayMon, Feb 16NormalCity works. All routes collected as normal.
Memorial DayMon, May 25Check with CityBased on prior years, Monday routes typically delayed. Verify at tampa.gov/solid-waste.
JuneteenthFri, Jun 19DelayedBased on 2025 pattern: Friday collection suspended. Verify official notice at tampa.gov closer to date.
Independence DayFri, Jul 4Check with CityBased on 2025, Friday routes were suspended on Jul 4. Monitor tampa.gov for official 2026 notice.
Labor DayMon, Sep 7DelayedMonday collection suspended. All routes that week shift one day later.
Veterans’ DayWed, Nov 11NormalCity works. All residential routes collected as normal.
ThanksgivingThu, Nov 26DelayedBased on prior years, Thursday and Friday routes delayed. Monitor tampa.gov for official notice.
Christmas DayFri, Dec 25DelayedFriday collection suspended → collected Sat, Dec 26 (based on 2025 pattern).
⚠ Always confirm holiday schedules at tampa.gov/news-group/news-solid-waste or call (813) 274-8811. The City publishes official revised schedules before each holiday. Download the Tampa Trash and Recycling App (iOS & Android) to receive push notifications about schedule changes.
💡 Monday routes are most impacted. Several major holidays fall on Monday in 2026 (MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day). The City notes that Monday service is disproportionately affected, but all residents are guaranteed at least one collection per week during holiday weeks.
Recycling — Green Cart

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
💡 Tampa does NOT accept aseptic cartons (milk cartons, juice boxes, soup broth cartons). Unlike many other cities, Tampa’s recycling processor cannot accept multi-layer aseptic packaging. These go in the blue garbage cart. Always check tampa.gov/recycling for the current accepted items list, as it can change year to year.

♻ 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.

S.W.E.E.P. — Bulk Pickup

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.

⚠ S.W.E.E.P. is NOT available in New Tampa. New Tampa residents are served by Hillsborough County Solid Waste and should contact them at (813) 272-5680 for bulk waste disposal options.

📅 How to Use S.W.E.E.P.

  1. Find your scheduled S.W.E.E.P. date using the official address lookup at tampa.gov/sweep or by calling (813) 274-8811.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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)
HHW & Electronics

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)
💡 HHW is available on select Saturdays only — always confirm dates. Call Hillsborough County Solid Waste at (813) 272-5680 or visit hcfl.gov for current HHW event dates. Bring a valid photo ID with your Tampa address.
New Tampa — Different Service

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

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.

How to tell if you’re a City of Tampa customer: If your garbage cart and recycling cart both have the City of Tampa logo, you are a City customer. If you’re unsure, use the City Limits Map at tampa.gov or call (813) 274-8811.
McKay Bay Transfer Station

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
💡 McKay Bay converts your garbage into electricity. The McKay Bay Waste Resource Management facility is a waste-to-energy plant that processes household garbage into renewable electricity for the city — one of the most efficient waste disposal systems in Florida.
Missed Pickup

What to Do If Your Trash Wasn’t Collected in Tampa

  1. 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).
  2. 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.
  3. Verify cart placement: out by 6:00 a.m., lid fully closed, at least 3 feet from all obstacles, opening accessible from the street.
  4. 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.
  5. Report missed pickup by calling (813) 274-8811 (option 3) or via the Tampa Connect online Customer Service Center.
After hurricanes or severe weather: The City may suspend or modify service during hurricane season. Monitor the Tampa Trash and Recycling App and tampa.gov/solid-waste for emergency service announcements. Do not place storm debris in regular carts without checking for special collection instructions.
Local Tips

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

Contact Tampa Solid Waste & Waste Services

ContactDetails
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 Lookuptampa.gov/service/sweep-pickup-schedule — Find your annual bulk pickup date
Tampa Trash & Recycling AppFree 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 Station114 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
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions — Tampa Trash Pickup

Your collection day depends on your specific address. The City of Tampa collects garbage, recycling, and yard waste all on the same day, once per week. There is no Wednesday residential service. Use the official address lookup at tampa.gov/service/trash-garbage-pickup-schedule or call (813) 274-8811 to find your specific day. Note: New Tampa (Tampa Palms, Hunter’s Green) is served by Hillsborough County — call (813) 272-5680 for their schedule.
Use the official City of Tampa address lookup tool at tampa.gov/service/trash-garbage-pickup-schedule, call (813) 274-8811, or download the free Tampa Trash and Recycling App (iOS and Android). If you have a blue garbage cart and green recycling cart with the City of Tampa logo, you are a City customer. If you live in New Tampa, Tampa Palms, or Hunter’s Green, you are a Hillsborough County customer and should call (813) 272-5680.
Recycling is collected weekly in Tampa, on the same day as your garbage and yard waste. All three streams are collected once per week. You don’t need to put the green recycling cart out every week — wait until it’s full. All recyclables must be clean, empty, and placed loose (never bagged).
The City of Tampa suspends collection on New Year’s Day (Jan 1), MLK Day (Jan 19), Juneteenth (Jun 19), Independence Day (Jul 4), Labor Day (Sep 7), Thanksgiving, and Christmas. When a holiday falls on your collection day, service is collected the following day. Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, and Veterans’ Day have varied in the past — confirm at tampa.gov/news-group/news-solid-waste or call (813) 274-8811. Download the Tampa Trash and Recycling App for push notifications.
Place clean, empty, and loose in the green cart: mixed paper (mail, newspapers, magazines), flattened cardboard, paperboard (cereal boxes), plastic bottles and jugs (rinsed, caps removed), aluminum and steel cans (rinsed), and glass bottles and jars (rinsed). Never put in: plastic bags, Styrofoam, food-soiled items, electronics, batteries, tanglers, or aseptic cartons (juice boxes, milk cartons — not accepted in Tampa). Items must be larger than your fist. Check tampa.gov/recycling for the current list.
Tampa’s S.W.E.E.P. program provides one free annual curbside bulk pickup of up to 10 cubic yards per eligible household. Find your S.W.E.E.P. date at tampa.gov/service/sweep-pickup-schedule or by calling (813) 274-8811. Place items curbside by 6 a.m. on your S.W.E.E.P. date, separate from your regular carts. If your date has passed, schedule a special pickup for $17.26/cubic yard via Tampa Connect or self-haul to McKay Bay Transfer Station for free.
Tampa residents can use Hillsborough County HHW facilities at no charge. Key locations include: Northwest County Solid Waste Facility (8001 W. Linebaugh Ave., Tampa) and Sheldon Road HHW Collection Center (9805 Sheldon Rd., Tampa — first Saturday of the month, 8 AM–2 PM). Bring a state-issued photo ID with your Tampa address. Call (813) 272-5680 or visit hcfl.gov for current schedules. Accepted materials include electronics, batteries, paint, motor oil, and household chemicals.
No. Unlike Los Angeles and some other cities, Tampa does not have a mandatory curbside food-scrap or organics collection program. Food waste goes in the blue garbage cart. The City does offer a free Backyard Composting Program where eligible residents (within City of Tampa limits) can attend a workshop and receive a free compost bin. Visit tampa.gov for program details.
If your garbage, recycling, or yard waste has not been collected by 3:00 p.m. on your collection day, report the missed service. Call (813) 274-8811 (option 3), submit via the Tampa Connect Customer Service Center at apps.tampagov.net, or use the Tampa Trash and Recycling App. Verify your collection day is correct and confirm carts were out by 6 a.m. with lids closed and 3-foot clearance on all sides.
New Tampa (including Tampa Palms and Hunter’s Green) is served by Hillsborough County Solid Waste Management, not the City of Tampa Solid Waste Department. Call (813) 272-5680 or visit hcfl.gov to find your schedule, holiday delays, and disposal options. County holiday rules differ: there are no make-up days if your collection falls on a holiday — service simply resumes on your next scheduled collection day.
Official Source

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 Lookuptampa.gov/service/trash-garbage-pickup-schedule — Enter your address to find your collection day
Yard Waste Schedule Lookuptampa.gov/service/yard-waste-pickup-schedule — Enter your address for yard waste pickup day
S.W.E.E.P. Schedule Lookuptampa.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 AppFree iOS & Android app — search “Tampa Trash and Recycling” — personalized schedules, reminders, and disposal guide
Solid Waste Websitetampa.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.

Outside City of Tampa limits? Hillsborough County unincorporated areas, Temple Terrace, Plant City, and nearby cities like St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Brandon have their own waste providers. Visit hcfl.gov for Hillsborough County resources or contact your local city government.
Other Cities

Trash & Recycling Schedules for Other US Cities

Looking for waste collection information in another city? Here are cities we’ve already covered with full schedules, recycling rules, and bulk pickup guides: