Margate, FL Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)

Section 19-7 of the Margate Code is the core pickup rule for garbage and trash. The contractor under the exclusive franchise must provide garbage carts to single-family dwelling units, and residents place all garbage and trash inside the cart so the lid closes completely. Under Section 19-7(c), a full cart holds at most the lesser of 150 pounds or the cart's maximum capacity. Multifamily communities using mechanical containers and commercial establishments sign a standard service agreement that conforms to the exclusive franchise, keep garbage and trash inside containers with lids completely closed, and must make sure the contractor's vehicles can reach the containers on collection days.

Section 19-7(e) makes it a violation to use a container without the knowledge and consent of the owner or occupants it was intended for. Under Section 19-7(f), the city manager has full power and authority to designate the location of containers and the number of containers kept at each location. Single-family garbage and trash collections occur at least twice a week, at least 72 hours apart, unless the city manager decides otherwise.

Section 19-14 adds prohibited acts: keeping garbage anywhere other than a standard, approved container from which regular collections are made, placing unacceptable waste in containers, and molesting, removing, handling or disturbing containers placed on city property for servicing (the occupant of the property is excepted). Unacceptable waste in Section 19-1(40) includes hazardous waste, lead acid batteries, explosives, asbestos-containing materials, mercury-containing devices, untreated biomedical waste and nickel cadmium batteries. Under Section 19-6, crews run between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, with no Sunday collections.