Monroe County, FL Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)
Key Facts
- Mandatory disposal site
- County solid waste disposal facility (Sec. 21-70)
- Standard receptacle
- 96-gallon tote per assessment (Sec. 21-74)
- Other receptacle limit
- 50 pounds unless mechanically dumped
- Service areas
- Monroe County Areas No. 1 through No. 7
- Penalty
- Up to $500 fine or 60 days jail
Summary
In the unincorporated Florida Keys (Monroe County), every improved property must use the franchised collector for its service area, and Sec. 21-70 requires all domestic solid waste to go exclusively to the county's solid waste disposal facility. Sec. 21-74 makes the 96-gallon garbage tote the only permissible household receptacle outside the Ocean Reef service area.
All domestic solid waste generated within the county shall be disposed of exclusively at the solid waste disposal facility. ... The owners or occupants of improved property within the unit shall be required to use the collection services provided by the collector granted a collection agreement for that service area in which such property is located. ... b.The ... owner shall provide receptacles adequate to contain all domestic solid waste generated from their residential property in accordance with the provisions herein, except that one 96-gallon garbage cart/tote will be provided to each residential property for each solid waste assessment paid. ... Except for the ocean reef service area, the 96-gallon tote is the only permissible method of garbage collection.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 21-71(a) requires the owners or occupants of improved property to use the collector granted a collection agreement for their service area, one of the Monroe County Solid Waste Collection Service Areas No. 1 through No. 7 established under Sec. 21-71(e). Sec. 21-70 makes disposal mandatory too: all domestic solid waste generated in the county must go exclusively to the solid waste disposal facility. For residential pickup, Sec. 21-74(1)(b) provides one 96-gallon garbage cart/tote per residential property for each solid waste assessment paid, and outside the Ocean Reef service area that tote is the only permissible method of garbage collection; additional totes can be purchased from the franchisee.
Sec. 21-74(1)(c) requires the tote lid to stay closed and flush with the top of the cart, with no garbage stacked on top, and caps any other receptacle at 50 pounds unless the hauler uses mechanical dumping equipment. Owners who deny a collector access to a private road, or whose road is inadequate for collection vehicles, must haul their own waste to the nearest county-approved road under Sec. 21-74(1)(e). Violating the article is prosecuted under Sec. chapter 162 and chapter 8 of the Monroe County Code.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 21-77 makes a violation of the solid waste collection article a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500.00, up to 60 days in the county jail, or both. The county can prosecute the same violation before the code compliance board under F.S. chapter 162 and chapter 8 of the Monroe County Code, and Sec. 21-77(c) makes these penalties cumulative with any other enforcement method available under state law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my own trash cans instead of the county's 96-gallon tote?
Do I have to use a specific trash hauler in the Florida Keys?
What is the penalty for violating Monroe County's trash collection rules?
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.