Alachua County, FL Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)
Key Facts
- Universal-area residents
- Must use only the contractor-issued receptacle
- Sizing
- Owner selects a size adequate for normal waste
- Excess waste
- Extra fee applies per board resolution
- Securing waste
- No overfilling; lid must be closed
- Using another's receptacle
- Separately unlawful (§ 75.206)
- Penalty
- Up to $500 fine / 60 days jail (§ 10.08)
Summary
Residential owners in Alachua County's universal collection area must use only the contractor-provided receptacle, sized to hold normally generated waste, and must secure it so nothing scatters, without overfilling, and with the lid closed. Excess waste requires a separate fee under a manual the department publishes.
(2) No residential property owner in the universal area who uses the residential collection service provided by a contractor shall use a receptacle for solid waste disposal other than a receptacle provided by such contractor. The residential property owner shall select a receptacle that is adequate in size to contain all solid waste that is normally generated on such property. ... The residential property owner or tenant shall pay an additional fee for the collection and disposal of the excess solid waste. (3) Waste material that is placed in a receptacle for collection by a contractor must be secured by the resident to ensure that the waste will not be scattered by the elements prior to, or during, collection. The resident shall not overfill, and shall close the lid on, any such receptacle.
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
301(a)(2) requires that a residential property owner in the universal area who uses the county's residential collection service use no receptacle other than the one the contractor provides, and that the owner select a size adequate for the property's normal solid waste volume. Waste exceeding the receptacle's capacity must be handled according to the "Let's Talk Trash" manual promulgated by the department, and the owner or tenant pays a board-set additional fee for collecting the excess. If the county determines the owner's chosen receptacle is consistently undersized, it may replace it with the next larger size and bill the owner for that larger receptacle and the delivery expense.
301(a)(3) separately requires that waste placed in the receptacle be secured by the resident so it will not be scattered by the elements before or during collection, and bars overfilling: the resident must close the lid. 206, which separately makes it unlawful for anyone to place solid waste or recyclables in a container, bag, or receptacle not owned by them or designated for their use by the permit holder or an authorized user.
Violations & Fines
A violation of the receptacle-use rules is punishable under Section 10.08 by a fine of up to $500.00, up to 60 days in the county jail, or both, enforced through the Chapter 24 code enforcement mechanism referenced in Section 75.501. Using someone else's receptacle without authorization is a separate offense under Section 75.206.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my own garbage can instead of the county's provided cart?
What if my trash doesn't fit in the provided bin?
Do I have to close the lid on my trash can before collection?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alachua County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Alachua 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.