Trash & Recycling in Manatee County, FL (2026)
7 rules for unincorporated Manatee County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Household garbage is collected twice a week (Monday/Thursday or Tuesday/Friday), with recycling and yard waste weekly. Find your days with the county's Resident Information Tool. When a holiday hits your day, collection slides one day for the rest of the week.
Manatee County Trash Pickup Schedule & Rules
Some RestrictionsManatee County Code Sec. 2-16-31(c)
Residential collection service shall include: (1) One (1) pickup per week solid waste collection in county provided carts collected from customer on the same day as yard waste and program recyclables. (2) One (1) pickup per week for yard waste. (3) One (1) pickup per week for program recyclables in county provided carts.
Bin Placement Rules
Manatee County residents must set carts within three feet of the curb in front of the residence, spaced three feet apart, never in the street, on the public way, or on a sidewalk. Set out after sunset the prior day (by 6:00 a.m.) and remove by sunset on collection day.
Where to Place Trash Carts in Manatee County
Some RestrictionsManatee County Code Sec. 2-16-34(a)
All residential solid waste, program recyclables, yard waste, special waste set outs and containers shall be set out for collection in front of the residence adjacent to and within three (3) feet of the curb serviced by the authorized collector... No such containers shall be placed in any street or public way or upon any sidewalk. Each container must be set three (3) feet apart.
Bulk Item Disposal
Bulk and special waste items in unincorporated Manatee County, from white goods to construction debris, aren't left at the curb on a whim: Sec. 2-16-35 requires calling the solid waste department first for an appointment, which the county must schedule within one week, with the material placed out only on the assigned date, and a special waste collection fee applies.
Bulk & Special Waste Pickup in Manatee County
Some RestrictionsManatee County Code Sec. 2-16-35
Commercial special waste and residential special waste collection of items meeting the definition of special waste shall be collected by appointment only. The owner or occupant of any residential improved real property desiring to place such special waste out for collection shall first call the department to make an appointment. The department shall give the owner or occupant a date upon which ...
Recycling Requirements
Manatee County requires recycling to go out in county-issued containers with the lid closed, set within 3 feet of the curb, no earlier than sunset the night before pickup and no later than 6 a.m. on collection day. Once placed curbside, the material becomes county property, and only the authorized collector's crew may touch it under Sec. 2-16-39.
Curbside Recycling Rules in Manatee County
Some RestrictionsManatee County Code Sec. 2-16-39
(a)All residential program recyclables containers shall be set out for collection in front of the residence, adjacent to and within three (3) feet of the curb or such other place designated by the department for curbside collection by authorized collector. Program recyclables shall be placed in containers approved and distributed by the County with container lids closed. ... (c)Prohibited acts....
Illegal Dumping
Dumping or littering solid waste on streets, right-of-way, waterways, or public places in Manatee County is prohibited under Chapter 2-16. Florida's litter law (FS 403.413) adds statewide penalties: a $150 civil fine for small amounts and a third-degree felony for commercial-quantity dumping.
Illegal Dumping and Littering in Manatee County
Some RestrictionsManatee County Code Sec. 2-16-101(c); FS 403.413
It shall be unlawful and an offense against the county for any person... To place or dispose of any solid waste, yard waste, program recyclables, and recyclable materials in or upon any public street, sidewalk, right-of-way, or alleyway, or any stream, ditch, river, pond, creek, park or public place in the county.
Yard Waste Collection
Unincorporated Manatee County collects yard waste once a week in its own container separate from trash and recyclables. Logs, limbs, brush and palm fronds can't exceed 6 inches in diameter, must be cut to 4-foot lengths or less, and every container, bag or bundle is capped at 40 pounds; bundled waste must go in craft paper, non-plastic bags.
Yard Waste Collection Rules in Manatee County
Some RestrictionsManatee County Code § 2-16-34(c)
Yard waste shall be placed in separate containers and shall not be mixed or commingled with other types of solid waste or program recyclables. All logs, tree limbs, brush, and palm fronds shall not exceed six (6) inches in diameter and shall be cut in four (4) foot lengths or less and placed in containers or tightly bundled for collection. Non-containerized and bundled yard waste may only be pl...
Dumpster Rules
Commercial properties in unincorporated Manatee County must use county-provided 96-gallon carts or arrange their own covered containers, refuse bins, closed-top containers, roll-offs or compactors that fit the authorized collector's equipment. Sec. 2-16-33(b) makes the owner responsible for keeping the container and its pad clean, and spillage from an overfilled bin simply won't be picked up.
Commercial Dumpster Rules in Manatee County
Some RestrictionsManatee County Code § 2-16-33(b)
(b)Commercial collection service. The owner or occupant of every commercial improved real property parcel shall use county-provided ninety-six (96) gallon carts or provide or arrange for containers or refuse bins with proper, well-fitting covers (if applicable) adequate to contain the solid waste generated or produced by such establishment, compatible with the collection equipment used by the a...
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