Sarasota County, FL Trash & Recycling: Holiday Pickup Schedule (2026)

Sarasota County Code § 106-47(a)(33) is the rule behind the calendar. It says the Franchisee "is not required to furnish Collection Services" on Christmas, New Year's Day, July 4th, Labor Day and Thanksgiving, plus any other holiday the Executive Director approves. Section 106-36 defines the Executive Director as the County Administrator or designee. The same clause requires the Franchisee, the hauler holding written authority from the Board, to tell every customer whose normal collection day falls on one of those days that no service will be provided and what the alternate collection day is, following the Solid Waste Management Department's directive. The code leaves the alternate day to that directive, so the county's posted schedule fills the gap.

The 2026 calendar for unincorporated Sarasota County reads as follows. Thanksgiving week: Monday through Wednesday, Nov. 23-25, collection runs as normal; Thursday, Nov. 26, no collection; Friday, Nov. 27, collection for Thursday customers; Saturday, Nov. 28, collection for Friday customers; the regular schedule resumes the following Monday. Christmas week: Monday through Thursday, Dec. 21-24, collection runs as normal, Christmas Eve included; Friday, Dec. 25, no collection; Saturday, Dec. 26, collection for Friday customers. New Year's week: Monday through Thursday, Dec. 28 through 31, collection runs as normal; Friday, Jan. 1, 2027, no collection; Saturday, Jan. 2, collection for Friday customers; regular collection days resume the following Monday.

The county's Solid Waste How-To Guide states the standing rule without dates: collection service is delayed one day from the holiday for the remainder of the week, and any regular Friday collection delayed by a holiday occurs on Saturday. Collections run Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., so materials belong at the curb by 6 a.m. on pickup day. Section 106-47(b) bars placing containers at the curb earlier than 5:00 p.m. the day before the designated collection day and requires emptied containers to be stored by 10:00 a.m. the day after.

Facilities close on their own schedule. The Bee Ridge Chemical Collection Center at 8750 Bee Ridge Road, the Venice Chemical Collection Center at 250 S. Jackson Road and the Central County Landfill administrative office at 4000 Knights Trail Road close Nov. 26 and 27, Dec. 24 and 25, and Jan. 1. On each make-up Saturday the landfill stays open until 4:30 p.m. and construction and demolition closes at 1:30 p.m.