Solid Waste Management

Miami-Dade County Solid Waste Management provides residential garbage collection, recycling, bulky waste pickup, disposal facilities, home chemical collection, mosquito control, billing support, code enforcement and waste-related permitting. This article explains which services the department handles, where service is available, how to prepare carts and bulky items, how to use disposal centers, how to report problems and which information residents or businesses may need before contacting the County.

Department Services and Responsibilities

The Miami-Dade County Department of Solid Waste Management manages several connected services rather than only collecting household garbage. Its responsibilities include residential waste collection, curbside recycling, bulky waste appointments, Neighborhood Trash and Recycling Centers, Home Chemical Collection Centers, landfills, transfer operations, waste-hauler permits, waste-related code enforcement and countywide mosquito prevention and control.

The department’s Solid Waste Management website serves as the main official starting point for service information, alerts, online reporting, fee payments and disposal guidance. Residents should verify that the County is their service provider before submitting a request because several municipalities operate their own garbage programs.

County waste collection and recycling services are provided in unincorporated Miami-Dade County and in Aventura, Cutler Bay, Doral, Miami Gardens, Miami Lakes, Opa-locka, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Sunny Isles Beach and Sweetwater. Curbside recycling is also provided through interlocal agreements in El Portal, Florida City, Medley, Miami Beach, Miami Springs, North Bay Village, South Miami, Virginia Gardens and West Miami.

Residents in other municipalities should contact their city government for local collection procedures. A property may be located in Miami-Dade County but still receive garbage service from a municipality rather than the County department. Confirming the service provider first can prevent a rejected missed-pickup report, an incorrect cart request or a trip to a disposal facility for which the household is not eligible.

Residential Garbage Collection

Most residential properties served by the County receive automated garbage collection twice each week. The service uses a wheeled green waste cart, and the cost is generally included as a non-ad valorem assessment on the property’s annual tax bill. Residents can review the official waste collection service information for pickup-day lookup options, cart requests and service-problem reporting.

Pickup Days and Holidays

Pickup days are assigned by property address and can be found through the County’s geographic information system. Residents should use the exact service address when checking the schedule. Entering a mailing address, apartment office address or nearby property may return the wrong collection days.

Waste collection normally continues during rain and on County-observed holidays except Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Independence Day and Christmas Day. When collection is suspended for one of those holidays, service resumes on the next regularly scheduled collection day. The department does not describe the makeup collection as occurring the following day unless that day is already part of the property’s regular schedule.

Green Cart Placement

The green cart must be at the curb by 7 a.m. on the scheduled pickup day. It should be placed within three feet of the street, with the wheels facing the home. At least five feet of clearance should be maintained between the cart and mailboxes, parked vehicles or other obstacles that could interfere with the automated collection arm.

The lid must be completely closed. Material protruding from the top can prevent collection, and bags or loose objects placed on top of or next to the cart will not be collected as part of regular automated service. Setting the cart out correctly is especially important before reporting a missed pickup because improper placement or an overfilled cart may be treated as a preparation problem rather than a collection failure.

Items Allowed in Green Carts

The cart is intended for ordinary household garbage, bagged trash, grass, leaves and yard trimmings. Household garbage, loose trash and yard clippings should be bagged before being placed inside. Bagging helps contain material and reduces loose debris during automated collection.

The following materials should not be placed in the green cart:

Furniture, appliances or other oversized items
Rocks, dirt, tile or construction and demolition debris
Free-flowing liquids
Flammable materials
Automobile batteries
Propane tanks
Household chemical waste

Large household items may qualify for a bulky waste appointment or disposal at a Neighborhood Trash and Recycling Center. Chemicals, propane tanks and similar hazardous household materials should be taken to an authorized Home Chemical Collection Center.

Manual Collection Households

A limited number of households receive manual waste collection instead of automated cart service. These residents may set out garbage cans of up to 30 gallons and tied plastic bags by 7 a.m. on each twice-weekly collection day.

Yard clippings and other trash must be placed in cans, bags or secured bundles. Bundles may be up to four feet long and should be tied with twine, rope or duct tape. Each can, bag or bundle must weigh less than 50 pounds. Residents who receive manual collection should not follow the green-cart instructions unless the department has changed the property to automated service.

Waste Cart Requests and Problems

Each automated-service household receives a standard 96-gallon green waste cart. Residents may request an exchange for a smaller 35-gallon or 65-gallon cart through 311. Additional cart service is also available for an annual fee charged for each additional cart.

Moving Into a Home

An existing home should normally have a waste cart on the property. A new owner who cannot locate the cart may contact 311 to request one and confirm that the waste account has been updated. When the account has not been transferred to the new owner, the department may require proof of ownership, such as a warranty deed or closing statement.

The owner of a newly constructed home must contact the Residential Billing Unit so that an account can be established and a cart ordered. The County does not deliver the cart until the home is occupied. While waiting for delivery, residents may place garbage at the curb in bags weighing no more than 50 pounds each.

Damaged or Stolen Carts

A cart damaged during the collection process may be repaired or replaced by the County without charge. Residents can report the damage through 311 or the County’s online reporting system. Damage caused by misuse, unauthorized modification or unacceptable materials may make the customer responsible for a $68 replacement cart.

A stolen cart requires a different process. The resident must first report the theft to the appropriate police department through its non-emergency service and obtain a police case number. That case number should then be provided to 311. The County states that a replacement cart will be delivered without charge when the required police case information is supplied.

Missed Collection Reports

A missed garbage or recycling pickup can be submitted through the Miami-Dade 311 service portal or reported by calling 311. The portal also accepts requests involving solid waste account updates, cart repairs, garbage service issues, recycling problems, illegal dumping, bulky waste complaints and mosquito inspections.

Before reporting a missed pickup, verify the assigned collection day, holiday schedule and cart placement. Keep the service address and a description of the problem available. Customers who submit a request online can use the service-request system to receive updates and review the status of a previously submitted report.

Curbside Recycling Service

Recyclable materials from participating single-family homes are collected every other week. The County’s recycling information page provides pickup-day lookup tools, disposal guidance, missed-pickup reporting and information for businesses and multifamily properties.

Recycling service areas do not exactly match all municipal garbage-service arrangements. Some cities receive County curbside recycling through interlocal agreements even though their local governments may handle other waste services. Residents should therefore verify both the garbage provider and the recycling provider rather than assuming the same agency handles both.

Businesses and Multifamily Buildings

Businesses must provide a recycling program for employees and tenants using a permitted or private recycling hauler. Condominium and apartment buildings must also provide recycling programs. These requirements are separate from the County’s single-family curbside collection schedule.

A tenant with a recycling concern should first determine whether the property uses County residential collection or a building-managed program. Problems involving a private hauler or a condominium’s collection area may require action by the property owner, association or building management rather than a residential curbside service request.

Preventing Recycling Contamination

Residents should identify the correct disposal method before placing an uncertain item in a recycling cart. The department provides item-search and barcode-scanning options through its recycling application. Materials that are not accepted can contaminate the recycling stream even when they appear reusable or contain recyclable components.

Electronics, chemicals, propane tanks and certain batteries should not be placed in a curbside recycling cart. Depending on the item and facility, they may be accepted at a Home Chemical Collection Center or at a designated Trash and Recycling Center.

Bulky Waste Appointments

Eligible residential waste-collection households may receive two bulky waste pickups during each calendar year, with up to 25 cubic yards allowed for each pickup. The County’s bulky waste appointment system allows customers to choose an available collection date rather than waiting through a multiday pickup window.

Appointment Timing Rules

The appointment must be scheduled before bulky material is placed at the curb. Available dates appear up to 30 days in advance, and the system does not offer waitlists or fit-in appointments when a date is full.

Once an appointment is confirmed, the pile may be placed at the curb no more than three days before the scheduled date. Material placed out earlier may lead to enforcement action, including a warning or civil citation. When the pile is set out on the appointment date, it must be ready by 7 a.m.

A cancellation must be received at least two days before the appointment, and all material must be removed from the curb. The stated cancellation deadlines are:

Monday appointments: cancel before midnight Thursday
Tuesday appointments: cancel before midnight Friday
Thursday appointments: cancel before midnight Tuesday
Friday appointments: cancel before midnight Wednesday

Pile Placement and Clearance

Bulky waste should be placed within 10 feet of the street. The pile must remain at least five feet from mailboxes, vehicles, trees, utility poles, sprinkler heads and other obstructions that collection machinery could damage. A vertical clearance of 15 feet is required between the ground and the lowest tree branch or power line.

Tree limbs must be no longer than five feet. Wooden fencing is limited to three cubic yards. These restrictions help the collection equipment reach and lift the pile without damaging nearby property or creating an unsafe obstruction.

Accepted Bulky Materials

Common accepted items include furniture, rolled carpets, stoves, water heaters, washing machines, dryers and certain other appliances. Refrigerator and freezer doors must be removed. Mattresses must be fully enclosed in a plastic mattress bag or sleeve and sealed with weather-resistant tape. Box springs do not have to be enclosed.

Chain-link and wooden fencing must be rolled and no higher than five feet. Disabled power tools, including lawnmowers, must be completely drained of gasoline, motor oil and other fluids.

Construction and demolition materials are limited to three cubic yards, described by the County as a pile no larger than six 96-gallon green waste carts. Examples include cabinets, sinks, vanities, bathtubs, concrete, glass, brick, asphalt, roofing material, lumber, drywall and tile.

Prohibited Bulky Items

The bulky waste program does not accept food or kitchen garbage, tires, televisions, electronics, microwave ovens, auto parts, central air-conditioning units, insulation fiberglass, household chemicals, oil-based paint, free-flowing liquids, dirt, rock or sand. A single item weighing more than 150 pounds is also prohibited.

Customers who have used their available pickups or have more material than the program allows may take qualifying waste to a Neighborhood Trash and Recycling Center, inquire about paid excess-yardage collection or hire a properly authorized private hauler. An Excess Yardage Approval form signed by the property owner is required for County removal of excess bulky waste.

Trash and Recycling Centers

The County operates 13 Neighborhood Trash and Recycling Centers for eligible residential waste-fee customers. The official Trash and Recycling Centers page provides facility locations, accepted-material details and address-based location lookup.

The centers are open daily from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. They are closed on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Independence Day and Christmas Day as observed by Miami-Dade County.

Residential Eligibility

Access is limited to residential waste-fee customers who live in unincorporated Miami-Dade County or in Aventura, Cutler Bay, Doral, Miami Gardens, Miami Lakes, Opa-locka, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Sunny Isles Beach or Sweetwater.

A valid Florida driver’s license or identification card is required to verify the property address. The attendant scans the identification to compare the address with an eligible property in the department’s customer database. When the identification address and account information do not match, the customer must submit the County’s access form for an eligibility review.

General Disposal Limits

Centers accept household trash, tree and yard cuttings and up to three cubic yards of construction and demolition debris per customer per day. The three-cubic-yard limit is approximately equal to the capacity of six standard 96-gallon green waste carts.

Most centers also accept up to four standard automobile tires and common white goods such as refrigerators, stoves, freezers, water heaters, washers and dryers. Garbage consisting of food or kitchen waste is prohibited at these facilities.

Accepted materials vary by location. Some centers accept electronics, used motor oil or cardboard, while certain locations do not accept tires, mattresses or white goods. Residents should check the facility-specific restrictions before loading a vehicle.

Vehicle and Trailer Limits

Oversized vehicles and trailers cannot enter Neighborhood Trash and Recycling Centers. The County defines prohibited oversized equipment as:

A van with a gross vehicle weight greater than 11,000 pounds
A pickup truck with a gross vehicle weight greater than 15,000 pounds
A trailer with a bed larger than 10 feet long, six feet wide and six feet high

Customers using oversized equipment may transfer the material to a compliant vehicle, schedule a bulky waste appointment or deliver the load to the North Dade or South Dade landfill and pay the applicable per-ton disposal fee.

Home Chemical Disposal

Residential customers can take hazardous household products and electronics to one of two Home Chemical Collection Centers. The facilities are not available for business or commercial waste.

Accepted Household Materials

Accepted products include oil-based paint, liquid latex paint, pesticides, solvents, pool chemicals, propane tanks within the facility’s size restrictions, empty oxygen tanks, small lithium-ion batteries and unbroken fluorescent bulbs. Electronics such as televisions, computer monitors, personal computers, keyboards, hard drives, printers, cellular phones, radios and audio or video equipment are also accepted.

Large propane tanks used for recreational vehicles, forklifts or fixed kitchen gas supplies are not accepted. Residents with unusable liquid latex paint may dry it using an absorbent material such as newspaper or kitty litter. Once fully solidified, the paint can may be placed in the regular waste cart.

Safe Packing Requirements

Chemical containers must be transported upright in sturdy boxes. Lids and caps should be tightened, and leaking containers must be placed inside a larger container with absorbent material. Every container must have a label. When the original label is missing, the resident should identify the contents based on available information or mark the container “UNKNOWN CHEMICALS.”

The County also holds mobile home chemical drop-off events for Miami-Dade residents. These events require a valid Florida driver’s license or identification card, accept specified household hazardous waste and electronics, and are not open to commercial users.

Landfill Access for Haulers

North Dade Landfill and South Dade Landfill are disposal facilities for permitted private haulers, municipal waste haulers and permitted landscapers. They should not be confused with the residential Neighborhood Trash and Recycling Centers located elsewhere in the disposal system.

Anyone entering a landfill to dispose of material must wear a reflective safety vest. Hard hats, safety glasses and closed-toe or steel-toe footwear are strongly recommended because the landfills are active industrial sites. Vehicles are weighed at the scale house when entering and leaving, and the weight difference is used to calculate disposal charges.

North Dade is a Class III trash-only landfill that accepts materials such as furniture, lumber, crates, large off-road tires, cardboard, yard trash and construction and demolition debris. South Dade is a Class I landfill that accepts a broader range of waste from authorized haulers, including garbage, tires, yard trash and certain construction materials. Asbestos disposal at South Dade requires advance authorization from the Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources and arrangements with the landfill at least 24 hours in advance.

Solid Waste Bills and Payments

Customers who receive a bill or invoice for eligible waste-related charges can use the County’s Solid Waste Online Fee Payment service. Online payments may cover waste collection charges, bulky waste overage fees, additional cart fees and landscaper visits.

Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover are accepted online without a convenience charge. Customers may also pay by mail or in person according to the instructions on their bill.

Liens, fines, delinquency fees and citations cannot be paid through the online waste-fee system. Customers should identify the type of charge before attempting payment because an invoice number for a service fee is different from an enforcement citation or lien. The billing unit handles account openings, account-name changes and waste-service billing questions.

Permits for Waste Businesses

Commercial operators may need a permit from Solid Waste Management before collecting, removing or transporting waste or recyclable materials within Miami-Dade County. Permit categories include general haulers, landscapers, small haulers, waste tire generators and waste tire haulers.

General Hauler Permits

A general hauler permit is required for a business that removes, collects or transports solid waste or recyclable material over County streets or public rights-of-way. Applicants must complete the appropriate application, pay the required fees and provide general liability and vehicle liability insurance at the coverage levels specified by the County. Company information must be permanently displayed on the vehicles and trailers used in the business.

Permitted private haulers operating within the Disposal Facility Fee Area have monthly reporting and payment responsibilities. The completed report and receipts for the preceding month are due by the 25th day of each month. A permit cannot be reassigned, transferred or sold, and ownership or business-name changes must be reported to the department within 30 days.

Waste Tire Permits

A waste tire generator permit is required for a person or business engaged in selling, trading or otherwise transferring new, used or waste tires. A waste tire hauler permit is required when a person transports five or more waste tires for hire within the County.

Generators must provide information about the haulers used to remove tires during the previous 12 months. Haulers must identify the tire generators from which they collected tires and the disposal, processing or recycling facilities used during that period.

Permit violations, unpaid charges or conduct that endangers public health, safety or welfare may result in revocation. An appeal of a permit denial or revocation must be filed within 14 days after receipt of the certified notice.

Code Enforcement and Public Records

Solid Waste Management issues warnings and citations for waste-related violations under Chapter 15 of the Miami-Dade County Code. Enforcement responsibilities include illegal dumping, facility enforcement, security and other solid waste civil violations.

Illegal dumping can be reported through 311. When illegal dumping is actively occurring, the County instructs witnesses to call 911. Residents should avoid confronting the person involved and should provide the location and available identifying details to the appropriate government agency.

Public records requests involving Solid Waste Management may be submitted to the department’s public records custodian by phone, postal mail or the County’s records-management system. Florida law treats email addresses as public records. A person who does not want an email address released in response to a records request should contact the office by phone or in writing instead of sending an email.

Accessibility and Service Assistance

A resident who has a disability and needs assistance moving a waste cart to the curb may apply for special-assistance collection through 311. This service is distinct from requesting a smaller cart or reporting a damaged cart.

People who need accessible materials, sign-language interpreters or another means of effective communication for a department program or meeting should contact Solid Waste Management five days in advance to begin the accommodation request. TTY users may call 711 through the Florida Relay Service.

Solid Waste Offices

Miami-Dade County Department of Solid Waste Management
2525 NW 62nd Street, 5th Floor, Miami, FL 33147
305-514-6666

Solid Waste Management Billing Unit
2525 NW 62nd Street, 5th Floor, Miami, FL 33147
305-594-1630

Solid Waste Management Public Records Custodian
2525 NW 62nd Street, 5th Floor, Miami, FL 33147
305-514-6034

Solid Waste Management Mosquito Control
8901 NW 58 Street, Miami, FL 33178
311 or 305-468-5900

Solid Waste Management FAQs

How do I find my garbage and recycling pickup days?

Use the County’s address-based lookup tools to confirm your scheduled collection days. Most residential properties served by Miami-Dade County receive garbage pickup twice each week, while curbside recycling is generally collected every other week. Place the correct cart at the curb by 7 a.m. Collection continues during rain and most holidays, but service is not provided on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Independence Day, or Christmas Day. After one of these holidays, collection resumes on the next regularly scheduled pickup day. Review the official waste collection guidelines before setting out your cart.

Why was my green waste cart not emptied?

The cart may be skipped when it is placed too late, overloaded, left with the lid open, or positioned near an obstacle. Set it within three feet of the street and at least five feet from parked vehicles, mailboxes, trees, and other obstructions. The wheels should face the home, and nothing should protrude from the top. Furniture, appliances, construction debris, liquids, propane tanks, automotive batteries, and household chemicals do not belong in the green cart. A missed eligible collection can be reported through Miami-Dade 311.

How far ahead can I place bulky trash outside?

Schedule the appointment before placing bulky items at the curb. The pile may be set out no more than three days before the confirmed pickup date and must be ready by 7 a.m. on appointment day. Eligible households generally receive two pickups per calendar year, with each pickup limited to 25 cubic yards. Placing material out too early may lead to a warning or civil citation. Check the County’s bulky waste pickup requirements for acceptable items, placement clearances, and cancellation deadlines.

Can I take household debris to a disposal center?

Eligible residential waste-fee customers may use Neighborhood Trash and Recycling Centers for household trash, yard cuttings, certain appliances, limited tires, and up to three cubic yards of construction and demolition debris per day. Food and kitchen garbage are prohibited. Bring a valid Florida driver’s license or identification card showing an eligible property address. Oversized vehicles and trailers are not permitted. Accepted materials differ by location, so verify the nearest Trash and Recycling Center before loading your vehicle.

Where should paint, chemicals, and electronics go?

Do not place hazardous household materials in curbside carts or bulky piles. Residential customers can bring oil-based paint, pesticides, solvents, pool chemicals, liquid latex paint, fluorescent bulbs, small batteries, electronics, and qualifying propane tanks to a Home Chemical Collection Center. Keep containers upright in sturdy boxes, tighten all lids, and clearly label every item. Leaking containers should be placed inside a larger container with absorbent material. These facilities are for residential use and do not accept business-generated waste.