Gulfport, FL Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Fee is mandatory
- Charged even without participation, Sec. 11-21(b)(11)
- Single-family rate
- $3.12 per month
- Mobile home/multi-family rate
- $1.88 per unit monthly
- 300-gallon commercial container
- $11.44 per container monthly
- Container ownership
- City-issued only, Sec. 11-18(b)
- Scavenging
- Unlawful to remove material, Sec. 11-17(b)
Summary
Every property in Gulfport pays a monthly recycling fee under Sec. 11-21(b)(11), whether or not the owner or tenant ever uses the city-issued recycling container. Sec. 11-18(b) entitles each property to one recycling container, replaced for a fee if lost or damaged.
(b)All recycling containers shall be issued by the city, and only such recycling containers shall be emptied by the city's authorized recyclable collector. Each property within the city shall be entitled to at least one (1) recycling container issued by the city. A fee shall be charged for lost containers, or containers that are damaged beyond normal wear and tear. ... All private properties within the city shall be assessed a recycling fee, whether or not the owner or tenant thereof participates in the city's recycling program, which fee shall be due and payable monthly as invoiced by the city
Full Breakdown
Gulfport doesn't make recycling optional for billing purposes. Sec. 11-21(b)(11) of the Code of Ordinances assesses a recycling fee on all private properties in the city, invoiced monthly, whether or not the owner or tenant participates in the city's recycling program. 44 per container for 300-gallon commercial containers. Sec. 11-18(b) governs the hardware side: the city, not the resident, issues every recycling container, and only city-issued containers get emptied by the authorized recyclable collector. Each property is entitled to at least one recycling container from the city, and a replacement fee applies if a container is lost or damaged beyond normal wear and tear.
Sec. 11-17(b) protects the material once it's out at the curb: it is unlawful for anyone other than the city's authorized recycling collector to remove recyclable material from a recycling container, a rule aimed at scavengers pulling cans and bottles before the truck arrives, though the code exempts a person with lawful care, custody and control of the container from that prohibition when using the material as intended.
Violations & Fines
Removing recyclable material from a curbside recycling container without authority violates Sec. 11-17(b) and is punishable under the Code's general penalty, Sec. 1-6, a fine up to $500, up to 60 days in jail, or both. Non-payment of the mandatory recycling fee under Sec. 11-21(b)(11) is billed with the water account under Sec. 11-22 and can lead to water service disconnection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still pay a recycling fee if I don't recycle?
Who owns my recycling bin in Gulfport?
Can someone else take recyclables out of my bin before pickup?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gulfport
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Gulfport to another location·View the Florida trash & recycling overview
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Recycling Requirements in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Pinellas County handle recycling requirements.