Tampa, FL Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)
Key Facts
- Bundle limit
- 4 feet, 50 lbs per bundle
- Unbundled bulk fee
- Billed per cubic yard, 1-yd minimum
- Free self-haul option
- McKay Bay brush transfer site, residents only
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Solid Waste & Environmental Program Mgmt
- Private hauler
- Requires § 26-157 permit
Summary
City of Tampa Code § 26-166(f) covers bulky items too large for the standard cart: anything that can be tied must be bundled to four feet and fifty pounds and set at curbside, while unbundlable bulk waste needs a Department request and is billed by the cubic yard, with a one-cubic-yard minimum charge.
Any solid waste which, by reason of its bulk or shape, cannot be placed within a container shall be tied in a bundle not to exceed four (4) feet in length or fifty (50) pounds in weight and placed at curbside for collection. If the solid waste is of such a nature that it cannot be tied or bundled, it may be placed out for collection upon request to the Department. Such solid waste will be collected at a time specified by the Department and a charge per cubic yard of solid waste collected, will be imposed. The minimum charge for such solid waste collection is no less than that charged for one (1) cubic yard.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 148).
Full Breakdown
Under City of Tampa Code § 26-166(f), any solid waste too bulky or oddly shaped for a cart must be tied into bundles no longer than four feet and no heavier than fifty pounds and set at the curb for the regular crew. Waste that cannot be tied or bundled, a mattress, a sofa, a water heater, can still go out, but only after the resident requests pickup from the Department of Solid Waste and Environmental Program Management; crews then schedule a specific collection time and bill by the cubic yard, with a minimum charge equal to one full cubic yard even for a smaller load.
Section 26-147 defines 'bulk service' as curbside service, for commercial customers, for waste 'placed out in containers, plastic bags or corrugated boxes' that can be measured by the cubic yard and 'loaded by hand with ease', anything heavier or larger falls into special-handling fees under § 26-31(i)(2)h. Residents who would rather haul bulky debris themselves can use the McKay Bay brush transfer site free of charge under § 26-175(g), but only by showing a current city utility bill with a garbage charge and being present in person; commercial haulers, including lawn and tree services, must instead pay the standard fee at the McKay Bay Transfer Station.
Anyone hiring a private hauler for bulk pickup instead of the city needs a Department permit under § 26-157, since collecting or transporting solid waste within city limits without one is unlawful.
Violations & Fines
Setting out unbundled bulk waste without requesting service, or exceeding the four-foot/fifty-pound bundle limit, triggers a notice of violation and, under § 26-165, seven days to comply before the Department collects it anyway and adds the special-service charge to the next utility bill. Hauling bulk waste for others without a § 26-157 permit is a separate offense punishable under the general penalty, § 1-6: up to a $500 fine, sixty days in jail, or six months' probation, each day a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just leave an old couch at the curb in Tampa?
Is there a free way to dispose of bulky junk myself?
What happens if I hire someone to haul my bulk trash away?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tampa
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Tampa to another location·View the Florida trash & recycling overview
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