Alachua County, FL Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)
Key Facts
- Set-out window
- no earlier than 24 hrs before collection
- Applies to
- universal-area residential property
- Bulk item cap
- furniture + up to 2 cu. yd. remodel debris
- Must not block
- road, alley, bike lane, sidewalk
- County removal after
- 7-day notice, owner billed
- Governing chapter
- Alachua County Code Ch. 75
Summary
Unincorporated Alachua County residents in the universal collection area may set bulk items like furniture and appliances at the curb no earlier than 24 hours before pickup, separated from garbage, and must not block roads or sidewalks, or the county removes and bills for it.
Sec. 75.301(e). Bulk items. No earlier than 24 hours preceding the scheduled collection day, an owner or occupant of residential property in the universal area shall place bulk items at the curbside/roadside in a manner that separates the bulk items from garbage and recyclable materials. Bulk items shall not be placed where they obstruct a road, alley, thoroughfare, bike lane, or sidewalk, unless prior written approval is provided by the department.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 63).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 75's solid waste rules define "bulk items" in Section 75.100 as "those items that may require special handling and management, including, but not limited to: white goods, materials not exceeding two cubic yards resulting from an improvement to the internal portion of a home; and any and all household goods and furniture," adding that bulk items "must be usual to housekeeping and must be generated by the customer at the dwelling unit where the bulk item is collected." Section 75.301 sets the collection mechanics for residential property in the universal area (the zone where the county's contractor collects curbside, established by resolution under §75.300).
Subsection (e) governs bulk items specifically: they may be placed "at the curbside/roadside" no earlier than 24 hours before the scheduled collection day, must be kept separated from garbage and recyclable materials, and "shall not be placed where they obstruct a road, alley, thoroughfare, bike lane, or sidewalk, unless prior written approval is provided by the department." The same section (subsection (d)) sets the parallel window for ordinary garbage and recycling receptacles, no earlier than 5:00 p.m. the day before collection, removed by 9:00 p.m. on collection day and placed at least 15 feet from the curb or out of the right-of-way.
If an owner places solid waste, yard waste or bulk items at the curb in violation of the chapter and doesn't remove them, §75.301(a)(5) lets the county order removal; if the owner fails to comply within seven days of written notice of non-compliance, the county may remove the material itself and recover all removal and disposal expenses from the owner.
Violations & Fines
Setting bulk items at the curb more than 24 hours before your scheduled pickup, mixing them with garbage or recyclables, or blocking a road, alley, bike lane or sidewalk without the solid waste department's prior written approval violates §75.301(e). If bulk or yard waste is left out in violation of Chapter 75 and not removed within seven days of written notice, the county may remove it and bill the owner for the full cost under §75.301(a)(5).
Frequently Asked Questions
How early can I put bulk items at the curb?
What counts as a "bulk item"?
Can I block the sidewalk with a couch while I wait for pickup?
What happens if I leave bulk waste out illegally and don't move it?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alachua County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Alachua County to another location·View the Florida trash & recycling overview
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