Brevard County, FL Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Brevard County Code § 94-117
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Brevard only
- Cart requirement
- Single-family: automated recycling cart
- Overweight carts
- Not allowed past manufacturer limit
- Ownership after pickup
- Becomes county property (§ 94-118)
Summary
Unincorporated Brevard requires curbside recycling carts for single-family homes, caps cart weight to manufacturer limits, and lets haulers refuse twice-tagged bad bins.
(a) All owners, residents or occupants of residential improved real properties within the service area of a recyclable materials collector shall be provided recyclable materials collection service by the collector. (b) Recyclable materials generated from single-family residences and individual multiple-family residences shall be placed in automated recyclable materials collection carts meeting the standards defined in section 94-1. (c) Recyclable materials placed in collection carts shall not exceed the weight limit established by the manufacturer of the cart.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 135).
Full Breakdown
Brevard County Code § 94-117 requires every residential collector to provide recycling service to properties in its service area. Single-family and individual multi-family homes must use automated recycling carts meeting county specs; bulk multi-family properties use collector-approved containers or compactor boxes set by agreement with the owner. Cans, bottles and other containers must be drained of liquids before going in the cart, and carts can't exceed the manufacturer's weight limit. A receptacle that doesn't meet code gets tagged by the collector; if the resident doesn't fix or remove it after two tags on separate collection days, the collector can refuse to service it. This governs unincorporated Brevard only. Melbourne, Palm Bay, Titusville, Cocoa and the county's other incorporated cities run their own recycling programs under their own codes.
Violations & Fines
Non-conforming or overweight carts get tagged twice on separate collection days; after the second tag, the collector may refuse pickup until the receptacle is fixed or replaced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to drain containers before recycling them?
What happens if my recycling cart is damaged or wrong?
Does this apply inside Melbourne or Palm Bay?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brevard County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Brevard County to another location·View the Florida trash & recycling overview
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