Collection Programs

The City of Fort Lauderdale provides curbside solid waste and recycling collections to single family and multi-family properties with three or less units. Our services are designed to collaborate with the community to reduce waste and promote responsible recycling. Use our interactive map to review your current collection schedule.

As of Monday, July 31, 2023, WM (Waste Management) will be Fort Lauderdale's environmental services provider collecting trash, recycling, yard waste and bulk trash. Learn about residential waste service through WM.

Residential Trash Collection

Trash is collected twice a week(PDF, 435KB) on your scheduled collection day. Only household trash and food waste should go in your cart. Bag all trash before placing it in your black trash cart. Bagging your trash will prevent a smelly and dirty trash cart.

Residential Yard Waste Collection

Yard Waste is collected once a week(PDF, 434KB) on your scheduled collection day. Use the cart for leaves, grass, plant clippings, branches, twigs, flowers, weeds, roots, and palm fronds cut to fit inside your green cart. Do not bag your yard waste.

Items that are too big should be placed out with your bulk trash.

  • Tree trimmings, hedge cuttings, palm fronds, tree limbs up to 12 feet long and up to 12 inches in diameter are also accepted. Bundling or tying is not required, however, leaves must be bagged and placed in separate pile.

Residential Recycling Collection

Recycling is collected once a week(PDF, 4MB) on your scheduled collection day*. Remember we only Take5! Only paper, glass containers, plastic containers (#1-7), metal cans and cardboard can go in your blue recycling cart. Do not bag your items.

* Some neighbors whose recycling was previously collected on Wednesdays will receive service on Saturdays starting the week of Monday, July 31, 2023. The schedule linked above is the new schedule. Learn more at ftlcity.info/wm.

Cart Collection Rules

Place carts curbside by 7:00AM on your scheduled collection day, but no later than 6:00PM the night before your scheduled pickup. Place carts at least 2 feet from other carts, cars, mailboxes, trees, storm drains, and utility poles. Never place your cart in the bike lanes. Remove carts from the roadside on the same day as collection.

Clean your cart periodically with water and mild, phosphate-free soap. Your lid should close completely to reduce litter during collection.

Bulk Collection

Bulk is collected once a month(PDF, 490KB) on your scheduled service day. Place bulk trash at your curb by 7 a.m. on your pickup day, but no earlier than 24 hours in advance of a scheduled bulk pickup. Items placed out for collection more than 24 hours in advance or remaining on your curb for more than 24 hours after your scheduled pickup could result in a citation. Place bulk trash in an accessible area away from parked cars, fences, trees, storm drains, power lines and other obstacles so large equipment may easily retrieve it.

  • Items must be in a pile no larger than 10 cubic yards

What should not be placed out for Bulk Trash pickup?

  • Tree stumps or any tree section more than 12 feet long
  • Imported items from other properties. All discarded items must come from your property. Combining trash piles with a neighbor is not acceptable
  • Hazardous materials or liquids
  • Dirt/sod, sand, pavers, concrete, and tiles
  • Household garbage
  • Loose glass items. Glass items must placed in a sturdy, rigid container for safe collection

Any additional information can be found on Bulk Trash brochure(PDF, 2MB).

Curbside Tire Collection

Place up to two passenger or light truck tires (up to 20 inches) next to your black cart on your scheduled garbage collection days for proper disposal. As an alternative, call our Neighbor Support Center at 954-828-8000 to submit a service request. This service is available for up to four tires per household per year.

Holiday Collection Schedule

Thanksgiving: No service interruptions on Thursday, November 27,2025.

Christmas Day (Thursday, December 25, 2025) is the only observed holiday on which collections will not occur. There will be no make-up day for curbside garbage collections. Curbside recycling and yard waste collections will be serviced on (Sunday, December 28,2025). Bulk customers will be serviced on (Monday, December 29,2025).

Holiday Tree Disposal: Fort Lauderdale neighbors may place live holiday trees curbside for pickup on scheduled yard waste collection days(PDF, 434KB). This free service begins Thursday, January 1, 2026, through Tuesday, January 20, 2026. All ornaments, lights and tinsel must be removed. This is an easy, eco-friendly method for disposal of fresh holiday trees.

New Year's Day: No service interruptions on Thursday, January 1, 2026.

Apartments, Condominiums, and Commercial Waste Services

The City of Fort Lauderdale supports an open market for solid waste collections at commercial and multi-family buildings. Those properties must contract directly with a waste hauler which has authorization to operate within the City of Fort Lauderdale.

Interested haulers must complete and submit the Hauler License Application and Agreement(PDF, 707KB) to the City of Fort Lauderdale. Monthly franchise fees are detailed within the agreement which includes a form for calculating the fees.

Once your application is accepted, and a signed agreement is on file, your company's information will be added to our list of Licensed Haulers(PDF, 115KB). Agreements which adhere to standards are for a three-year term. This same application can be used for renewal.

Contact Us

Neighbor Support Center
954-828-8000

You can also use FixIt FTL.

Form

FAQs

How can I help with the TAKE 5 program?

More information about how to get involved can be found on our Green Your Routine page.

Can I get my recycle cart back after it has been removed?

You will be eligible to apply for a recycle cart after 90 days. You will be required to complete the TAKE5 anti-contamination course and sign the TAKE5 pledge. The contents of the recycle cart will be monitored with future inspections to ensure only the acceptable items are placed in the cart.

How will the TAKE5 program work?

For 3 consecutive weeks, City of Fort Lauderdale employees and Green Your Routine volunteers will be checking the contents of blue recycling carts placed curbside in specific neighborhoods on their scheduled recycling day. Recycling carts that do not have any contamination will be given a “Good Job” tag.

Recycling carts containing garbage and non-recyclable materials will be tagged to identify the non-recyclable materials and will not be serviced. The non-recyclable materials must be removed from the cart in order to be serviced on the next scheduled recycling day. Carts found to have contamination after 3 inspections may be subject to immediate removal.

What are the acceptable items that should be placed in the blue recycling cart?

  • Paper
  • Metal Cans
  • Cardboard
  • Plastic Bottles and Containers
  • Glass Containers

More Details about TAKE5

What is TAKE5?

TAKE5 was developed by the City of Fort Lauderdale to improve the recycling collection program by eliminating contamination and increase the quality of collected materials. This helps to keep the costs to our City as low as possible. More details about TAKE5

Do I need to schedule a curbside pick-up for my electronics?

Yes. You can schedule a pick-up by 4pm on the day before your regularly scheduled recycling day by completing an online Curbside Electronics Pick-Up Request Form or calling the 24-Hour Neighbor Call Center at (954) 828-8000.

How do I set my electronics out for collection?

All electronics should be placed to the curb next to your blue cart no earlier than 6pm the night before your scheduled collection day but no later than 7am on your scheduled collection day. You can place items in a cardboard box if they are small.

What holidays will I not receive collection?

The City of Fort Lauderdale has regular collections on all holidays, with the exception of Christmas Day.

Why should I recycle my electronics?

Electronics contain heavy metals and other environmental contaminants. By recycling them, you will prevent pollution and allow useful components to be repurposed.

Back to top