Trash & Recycling in Pinellas County, FL (2026)

6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 7 cities in Pinellas County, Florida.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Pinellas County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Pickup Rules & Schedules

Florida law, Fla. Stat. § 403.706(21), lets Pinellas County and its cities require residents and businesses to separate designated recyclable materials from trash and bar knowingly discarding them as garbage. Pinellas County's own recycling ordinance, Code § 106-1, carries this out locally: it is unlawful to remove material from a curbside recycling bin or to dump non-recyclable waste into one.

Pinellas County Recyclables Separation and Pickup Rule

Some Restrictions

Fla. Stat. § 403.706(21)

(21) Local governments are authorized to enact ordinances that require and direct all residential properties, multifamily dwellings, and apartment complexes and industrial, commercial, and institutional establishments as defined by the local government to establish programs for the separation of recyclable materials designated by the local government, which recyclable materials are specifically...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Recycling Requirements

In unincorporated Pinellas County, licensed residential haulers must offer curbside recycling pickup to every single-family customer at least once a week under Code § 106-258(5). Accepted materials include newsprint, magazines, mixed paper, cardboard, aluminum and steel cans, and plastic containers #1 through #7. Haulers may charge an added fee. St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo and the county's other cities run independent recycling programs outside this rule.

Pinellas County Curbside Recycling Requirements

Some Restrictions

Pinellas County Code of Ordinances § 106-258(5)

Any person holding a license issued by the board of county commissioners for the collection, transport and disposal of residential solid waste curbside from single-family residences as provided in this article shall comply with the service standards of this section. The license holder shall:...(5)Offer to its single-family residential collection customer's curbside collection services for recyc...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Illegal Dumping

Unincorporated Pinellas County bans dumping or leaving garbage, refuse, rubbish, junk or debris on any property, improved or vacant, with fines up to $500 and each day counted as a separate offense.

Pinellas County Illegal Dumping Prohibition

Heavy Restrictions

Pinellas County Code of Ordinances § 58-304

No person shall dump or cause to be dumped, or place or cause to be placed, or leave or permit to accumulate any garbage, refuse, rubbish, junk, debris, or similar noxious material of any kind or cause or permit the untended growth or excessive accumulation of weeds or other plant material on any property situate in the unincorporated area of the county, whether improved or unimproved. (Ord....

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Yard Waste Collection

Licensed residential haulers serving unincorporated Pinellas County must offer separate weekly yard waste collection to single-family customers, apart from regular trash pickup, and may charge an added fee.

Pinellas County Yard Waste Collection Rule

Some Restrictions

Pinellas County Code of Ordinances § 106-258(6)

Offer separate collection of yard waste to its single-family residential solid waste collection customers at a frequency of not less than once per week. The license holder may charge an additional fee for this service.(7)Offer bulky waste collection to its single-family residential solid waste collection customers. The frequency and manner of such collection shall be as agreed between the licen...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Dumpster Rules

In unincorporated Pinellas County, commercial dumpsters must meet zoning setbacks, be screened by a 6-foot solid fence, and are banned outright on single-family lots zoned R-1 through R-5.

Pinellas County Commercial Dumpster Placement Rules

Some Restrictions

Pinellas County Code § 138-3507

(a)General standards. Dumpsters are subject to the standards in this section.(1)Dumpsters shall meet the minimum setbacks of the zoning district.(2)Dumpsters shall be screened from street view with a solid fence or wall a minimum of six feet in height.(3)Dumpsters shall be serviceable in that location by a waste hauler vehicle.(4)The property owner shall be responsible for the repair and mainte...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Collection Schedule

In unincorporated Pinellas County, county-licensed haulers must collect single-family residential trash curbside at least once a week under Code § 106-258(3), though a hauler and customer can agree to more frequent pickup. All collected waste must go to the county's solid waste facility at 3095 114th Avenue, St. Petersburg, under § 106-258(4).

Pinellas County Trash Collection Frequency Rule

Some Restrictions

Pinellas County Code of Ordinances § 106-258(3)-(4)

Any person holding a license issued by the board of county commissioners for the collection, transport and disposal of residential solid waste curbside from single-family residences as provided in this article shall comply with the service standards of this section. The license holder shall:...(3)Provide curbside collection services for single-family residential solid waste at a frequency of no...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗