Palm Beach Gardens, FL Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

Section 78-379 targets multifamily residential recycling first: any project with ten or more dwelling units must provide storage areas for recycled materials, located either within the multifamily structure itself or as part of the area holding the garbage disposal facilities, and arranged so collection vehicles do not have to maneuver excessively to reach them. Table 36 sets the minimum size by unit count, 40 square feet for 10 to 30 units, climbing through 100 square feet for 31 to 99 units and 160 square feet for 100 to 159 units, up to 240 square feet for developments of 160 to 240 units, with one additional square foot required for every unit beyond 240.

Any multifamily building that already receives curbside recyclable materials collection at least once a week is exempt from building a dedicated storage area at all. Where a collection area is not located inside the residential structure, it has to be screened the same way section 78-378 requires dumpsters to be screened. An owner can propose an alternative to the standard collection area, but the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County has to review it before the city signs off, and the growth management director can let an existing multifamily property use existing parking spaces for a collection area without needing a variance. Section 78-379(d) extends the same storage-and-collection obligation to new nonresidential developments and major redevelopment projects going forward from this section's effective date.