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St. Lucie County, FL Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified July 2026

Key Facts

County section
Code Sec. 38-96
Yard trash
Must be separated from waste
Recyclables
Board-authorized recycling only
City service
Curbside recycling cart
No bags on cart
Nothing on top of container

Summary

St. Lucie County requires yard trash to be separated from other solid waste, and recyclable materials to go to authorized recycling. Port St. Lucie provides curbside recycling carts collected by the franchise hauler.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of St. Lucie County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

All solid waste generated within the county shall be disposed of exclusively at a solid waste disposal facility ... except for those recyclable materials which the board authorizes for recycling ... All yard trash set out for collection by a hauler shall be separated from all other solid waste by the owner or occupant in accordance with state law.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 32 | Land Development Code: Supplement 36).

Full Breakdown

St. Lucie County Code Sec. 38-96 requires all solid waste to go to a county-approved disposal facility except recyclable materials the board authorizes for recycling, and mandates that all yard trash set out for collection be separated from other solid waste by the owner or occupant in accordance with state law. Yard trash may not be dropped at a county disposal facility unless separated. In Port St. Lucie, single-family homes receive a recycling cart collected curbside by the franchise hauler; recyclables must be set out only in the provided cart and not bagged on top of it.

Violations & Fines

Failing to separate yard trash is a prohibited act under Sec. 38-97; Port St. Lucie enforces recycling set-out rules by solid-waste citation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to separate yard waste?
Yes. St. Lucie County Code Sec. 38-96 requires all yard trash set out for collection to be separated from other solid waste in accordance with state law.
How does recycling work in Port St. Lucie?
Single-family homes get a recycling cart collected curbside by the franchise hauler; recyclables must go in the provided cart, not bagged or piled on top of it.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in St. Lucie County

All St. Lucie County rules

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Recycling Requirements in Cities Across St. Lucie County