Monroe County, FL Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)
Key Facts
- Free bulk pickups
- 4 per fiscal year (Oct 1 - Sep 30)
- Free bulk size cap
- 2.5 cubic yards per pickup
- Yard waste cap
- Ten 32-gallon receptacles weekly
- Extra pickups
- Fee set by county's franchisee
- Scheduling
- Must call the franchisee directly
Summary
Monroe County's franchised haulers give unincorporated Keys residents four free bulk-waste pickups per fiscal year, each capped at two and a half cubic yards, under Monroe County Code § 21-74(2). Anything larger, or beyond the fourth pickup, is collected for a fee set by the franchisee, and excess yard waste beyond the weekly ten-can limit follows the same fee-based scheduled pickup.
Bulk (bulky) trash/waste as defined in section 21-46 and excess yard waste will be collected by the county's franchise hauler on a scheduled basis and will not require containerization if the requirements set forth in the following subsections are met. Customer must arrange to schedule a pick-up with the county's franchisee. The county's franchisee will collect four bulk waste pick-up of two and one-half cubic yards per fiscal year (October 1 to September 30) at no additional fee. Bulk waste pick-up in excess of four pick-ups of two and one-half cubic yards per fiscal year or any pick-up in excess of two and one-half cubic yards will be subject to a fee for pick-up in an amount of the cost of collection and disposal imposed by the county's franchisee. Payment shall be made directly to the county's franchisee. ... Excess yard waste/horticultural waste, that cannot be contained in ten 32-gallon receptable for regular yard waste pick up once per week, may be set out on the right-of-way for scheduled pickup with the county's franchisee.
Full Breakdown
Section 21-74(2)(a) of the Monroe County Code entitles every residential customer of the county's franchised solid waste hauler to four scheduled bulk (bulky) trash pickups per fiscal year, October 1 through September 30, at no additional charge, so long as each pickup does not exceed two and one-half cubic yards; bulky items do not need to be bagged or boxed to qualify. Customers must call the county's franchisee directly to schedule the pickup date. A fifth pickup in the same fiscal year, or any single pickup exceeding two and one-half cubic yards, is billed to the property owner at the franchisee's cost of collection and disposal, paid directly to the franchisee rather than through the county assessment.
Excess yard waste and horticultural trash follows the same fee model: routine yard waste is capped at ten 32-gallon receptacles set out once a week for free collection, but anything beyond that limit, or any loose yard waste that will not fit in a 32-gallon can, must be scheduled with the franchisee for a fee, per § 21-74(2)(b). Section 21-74(2)(c) confirms a customer can instead hire a nonfranchised, licensed hauler to remove excess yard waste or construction and demolition debris on their own.
Violations & Fines
Bulk or yard waste left out beyond the free allotment without arranging fee pickup, or dumped rather than scheduled, exposes the property owner to the article's general penalties: prosecution as a misdemeanor under § 21-77, punishable by a fine up to $500.00, up to 60 days in jail, or both, plus code compliance board action, since unscheduled bulk waste left at the curb is treated as prohibited disposal under § 21-76.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many free bulk trash pickups do I get each year?
Do I need to bag or box bulky items for pickup?
What if I have more yard waste than fits in ten trash cans?
Can I hire my own hauler for extra debris instead of paying the franchisee's fee?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Monroe County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Monroe County to another location·View the Florida trash & recycling overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.