Orange County's Automated Curbside Collection Program provides residents with roll carts to dispose of garbage and recyclables. Under this program, garbage, recycling, yard waste, and large items are each picked up once per week. You can access your collection schedule electronically here.

Recycling is required by Orange County Code. To reduce the amount of garbage in the recycling stream, the Orange County Utilities Solid Waste Division encourages residents to "Think 5" by focusing on the top five recyclable items—plastic, metal, and glass containers, as well as cardboard and paper. The overall goal is to help raise awareness about good recycling habits.

Place only these empty and dry recyclable items in the roll cart with the blue lid:

• PLASTIC
  Bottles, jugs, and tubs labeled #1 - #5
• METAL CANS
  Tin, aluminum, and steel
• GLASS
  Bottles and jars
• CARDBOARD
  Flattened corrugated boxes
• PAPER
  Newspapers and advertisements
  Paper bags
  Junk mail
  Magazines and catalogs
  Office/note paper
  Phone books
  Cereal/shoe/drink boxes
  Milk/juice cartons

The recycling program can only recycle the material listed above and no other material should go into the recycling cart. Plastic bags and wraps are particularly troublesome. Check local stores for drop-off containers to recycle plastic bags, film, and wrap.

Please refer to the Save Landfill Space page for information on recycling drop-off.

Household garbage items, except for those items listed below, may be placed in the cart with the green lid. It is recommended that garbage items be bagged and tied first, then placed in the cart. This practice will keep your container cleaner, minimize odors, and reduce the chance of wind-blown litter.

Other ways to help control odor include double bagging when the odor is more offensive, making sure the cart lid is closed tight, and leaving a dryer sheet inside the cart.

Unaccepted waste includes hot ashes or coals, recyclable items, household hazardous chemicals, medical waste, fluorescent bulbs, tires, paint, and yard waste such as bagged or loose grass, leaves, or small branches.

• Place carts within three feet of the curb no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the night before and no later than 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day.
• Keep carts three feet away from mailboxes, parked cars, and low-hanging tree limbs.
• Keep lids fully closed; do not overfill carts.
• Have three feet of clearance between carts so trucks can safely use the mechanical arm.
• Face cart handles toward the house and lid arrows toward the street.
• After collection, put empty carts away on the same day.

Large items such as furniture, mattresses, appliances, TVs, and up to four passenger car tires are collected the same day as yard waste. Large items should be placed at the curb no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the night before and no later than 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day.

• Limit large items to three cubic yards (about the size of three stoves) per household per week. Set large items out neatly.
• Please keep large items separate from yard waste.
• Freon-containing devices such as freezers and refrigerators are not included in the curbside collection program.
• If you have questions about the eligibility of your large item for curbside collection, please call the Solid Waste Hotline at
  407-836-6601.

Yard waste includes vegetative landscaping material as well as grass, tree, and shrub trimmings, and should not be placed in the garbage or recycling cart. Yard waste should be placed at the curb no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the night before and no later than 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day.

• Limit yard waste to three cubic yards (about the size of three stoves) per household per week.
• Use your own garbage cans or plastic bags for collection. Cans and bags must be 50 gallons or less and weigh less than 60 pounds each when full. Cans must be waterproof with a tight-fitting lid and have handles on the sides.
• Don't mix yard waste with garbage, recyclables, or large items.
• Bundle limbs, palm fronds, and similar items with string or twine. Keep bundles three feet long or less. Limit weight to less than 60 pounds.
• Cut stumps into three foot lengths weighing less than 60 pounds each.
• Live Christmas trees can be set out at the curb on your yard waste collection day. Trees over six feet should be cut in half. Remove all ornaments, decorations, and stands before placing at the curb. Artificial trees are not collected with yard waste.

Electronic equipment from your home, such as computers and televisions (except for rear-projection sets), can be recycled. Many retailers will accept old electronics for recycling. Check with your local retailer for electronic waste recycling options.

Orange County residents may also bring their electronic waste to one of the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facilities or community collection events. Electronics recycling facility locations and collection event information.

Curbside services are billed with your property taxes. Newly constructed homes will receive the first bill from Orange County Utilities. For more information, call 407-836-6601.

Automobile parts, household hazardous waste, and freon-containing devices.

Solid Waste Division
5901 Young Pine Road
Orlando, FL 32829

Email: Solid.Waste@ocfl.net
Solid Waste Hotline: (407) 836-6601

All e-mail sent to this address becomes part of Orange County public record. Comments received by our e-mail subsystem can be read by anyone who requests that privilege. In compliance with "Government in the Sunshine" laws, Orange County Government must make available, at request, any and all information not deemed a threat to the security of law enforcement agencies and personnel.