Trash & Recycling in Sarasota County, FL (2026)
10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Sarasota County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Every residential and commercial property owner in unincorporated Sarasota County's Solid Waste Service District must use the county Franchisee for garbage collection; opting out for a private hauler is not allowed. The Franchisee also cannot run collection trucks before 6:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m. without the Executive Director's sign-off.
Sarasota County Mandatory Trash Service Rules
Some RestrictionsSarasota County Code § 106-41(a)(1), (3), (c)(1)
It is mandatory that all owners or occupants of Residential Real Property within the Solid Waste Service District use the Franchisee for the Collection of Residential Waste. It is permissible for occupants of Residential Real Property to use the Franchisee for the Collection of E-Waste, used oil and used oil filters, and Tires in accordance with the regulations of the Solid Waste Management Dep...
Bin Placement Rules
Curbside carts in unincorporated Sarasota County must be out by 6:00 a.m. on collection day and cannot go to the curb earlier than 5:00 p.m. the day before. Empty carts must be back in the side or rear yard, never the front yard or a right-of-way, by 10:00 a.m. the next morning, and premises must otherwise stay free of improperly stored waste.
Sarasota County Garbage Cart Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsSarasota County Code § 106-58(c); § 106-47(b)(13)-(14)
The owner and/or occupant of any Premises located in the unincorporated area of the County, except authorized Disposal Sites, shall maintain the Premises free from all Solid Waste not properly stored as required by this Article, or rules promulgated hereunder whether generated or accumulated from on or off the Premises. ... Curbside Containers, Recycling Containers, and other Residential Waste ...
Bulk Item Disposal
Sarasota County's Franchisee will haul away large household items like furniture, mirrors and fence panels, but only up to 20 cubic yards per household four times a year, and only after the customer calls to schedule the pickup. Refrigerator and freezer doors must be removed first, and used oil, oil filters and tires each carry their own quantity caps.
Sarasota County Bulk Waste Pickup Limits
Some RestrictionsSarasota County Code § 106-36 (Bulk Waste); § 106-47(b)(12)
Bulk Waste means all large household items that do not require extraordinary management, do not fit into a Curbside Container, and are not covered by the definitions for White Goods and E-Waste including, but not limited to, bathroom fixtures, furniture, mirrors, glass doors, fence panels, plywood, ladders, and carpet. ... Customers shall notify the Franchisee of the need for the collection of ...
Recycling Requirements
Sarasota County requires curbside customers to keep Program Recyclables out of the trash. Code Sec. 106-55 makes it unlawful to knowingly combine recyclables with other solid waste, Sec. 106-51 makes anything set out at the curb county property, and Sec. 106-52 makes scavenging recyclables from the curb a misdemeanor.
Sarasota County Mandatory Recycling Rules
Some RestrictionsSarasota County Code §§ 106-51, 106-52, 106-55
Sec. 106-51: From the time of placement of Residential Customer Program Recyclables at the Curbside or other authorized centralized location specified for Collection, such Program Recyclables shall become, and be the sole property of Sarasota County or its authorized agent. Sec. 106-52: No Person other than the Franchisee may collect or cause to be collected any Program Recyclables from the Cur...
Holiday Pickup Schedule
Sarasota County's franchised waste hauler is not required to run curbside collection on New Year's Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any other holiday the Solid Waste Management Department's Executive Director designates. Sarasota County Code Sec. 106-47(a)(33) instead requires the franchisee to notify every customer whose normal pickup day lands on that holiday of the specific alternate collection date, so no household is left guessing.
Sarasota County Holiday Trash Collection Schedule
Light RestrictionsSarasota County Code § 106-47(a)(33)
The Franchisee is not required to furnish Collection Services on Christmas, New Year's Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and any other holiday as approved by the Executive Director. The Franchisee is required to notify all Customers whose normal Collection day falls upon such day that no Collection Service will be provided and the date of the alternate Collection day in accordance with th...
Illegal Dumping
It is unlawful to dump solid waste or recyclables on any public or private property in unincorporated Sarasota County except at approved sites (Sec. 106-54). Florida's Litter Law (FS 403.413) adds statewide criminal penalties.
Illegal Dumping Rules in Sarasota County
Some RestrictionsSarasota County Code Sec. 106-54(a)
It shall be unlawful for any Person to discharge, throw, place, deposit or allow to remain in or upon any private or public Premises, road, rights of way, street, alley, canal, ditch, stream, lake, pond, bay or other waters... any Solid Waste or Recyclable Materials, except in and upon approved Solid Waste Disposal Sites...
Yard Waste Collection
Yard trash in unincorporated Sarasota County must go in a separate curbside container from regular garbage, be no longer than four feet and stick no more than 12 inches above the container's top. Plastic bags have been banned for yard trash since May 1, 2023; paper bags or a rigid bundled container are the only options.
Sarasota County Yard Trash Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsSarasota County Code § 106-47(b)(1), (10)
Curbside Customers shall provide and utilize Curbside Containers which do not exceed 40 pounds in weight for Manual Collection and do not exceed the weight posted on the cart for Automated Collection when full. Residential Solid Waste may be placed in plastic bags outside of a Curbside Container under a Manual Collection service but such placement outside of an Automated Collection Container sh...
Dumpster Rules
Commercial dumpsters in unincorporated Sarasota County must sit on a paved, level surface, preferably a 6-inch concrete pad, strong enough to hold the collection truck's weight. An enclosure at least 12 feet by 12 feet is required unless the container is stored inside a walled building, and gates need a NO PARKING sign in contrasting color with letters at least 3 inches tall.
Sarasota County Commercial Dumpster Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsSarasota County Code § 106-47(e)(4)-(5)
Commercial Containers and Commercial Recycling Containers shall be placed on a paved level surface; preferably a concrete pad six inches thick and all approaches to container shall be capable of supporting weight of Collection vehicle. Enclosures for Commercial Containers and Commercial Recycling Containers are required, unless there is a permanent storage area for such containers inside a wall...
Collection Schedule
Class I curbside customers in unincorporated Sarasota County get once-a-week garbage collection, while Class II dumpster customers get at least once a week, always on the same weekday and only Monday through Friday. Commercial putrescible waste is collected at least weekly, and other commercial waste at least every two weeks.
Sarasota County Trash Collection Schedule Rules
Some RestrictionsSarasota County Code § 106-41(a)(4)-(7), (c)(2)-(3)
Class I Collection Service (via Curbside) shall consist of once-per-week Collection of properly prepared Residential Waste.(5)Class II Collection Service (via dumpsters) shall consist of a minimum of once-per-week Collection of properly prepared Residential Waste.(6)Residential Collection Services shall be performed by the Franchisee Monday through Friday, except during Holiday weeks or as othe...
Recycling Rules
Once you set your recycling bin out at the curb, Sarasota County Code Sec. 106-51 makes the contents the sole property of the county or its Franchisee, not yours anymore. Sec. 106-52 backs that up by making it a misdemeanor for anyone other than the franchised hauler to pick through or collect curbside recyclables without written approval from the Solid Waste Management Department first.
Sarasota County Recycling Ownership and Removal Rules
Some RestrictionsSarasota County Code §§ 106-51, 106-52
From the time of placement of Residential Customer Program Recyclables at the Curbside or other authorized centralized location specified for Collection, such Program Recyclables shall become, and be the sole property of Sarasota County or its authorized agent. ... No Person other than the Franchisee may collect or cause to be collected any Program Recyclables from the Curbside or from any othe...
Trash & Recycling by City in Sarasota County
2 cities in Sarasota County have their own trash & recycling rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Sarasota County ordinances
See every category we cover for Sarasota County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Sarasota County Ordinance Hub →