RESIDENTIAL REFUSE Collection

Collection Preparation

Place carts at the curb by 7AM on your collection day but no later than 6PM, the evening prior to collection. Remember to bag all your garbage, which prevents spillage and makes collection cleaner and easier.

UTOMATED GARBAGE GUIDELINES:

  • All garbage should be in plastic bags placed in the City issued cart to keep the cart clean and prevent it from blowing away when emptied. Please DO NOT bag recyclables.
  • Don't overload the cart or place items on top of the cart. The lid should be completely closed and not overflowing. If your cart is overflowing, our crew may not collect it. 
  • Automated trucks cannot pickup extra garbage bags that is placed on the ground next to the garbage carts. Extra bags will be collected on your bulky collection day.
  • Make sure the handle faces your house and the lid openings face the street. On the same day, after service, all carts must be removed from the curb.
  • Position carts 5 feet away from any object or other carts, allowing clearance for mechanical arm of collection truck. Ensure carts are not blocked by cars, mailbox, trees, pole, fence, vehicle and basketball goal. 
  • Do not place your carts under wires or near low tree branches.

Delays in Collection

If your regular pickup day falls on a holiday, service will resume on your next scheduled collection day. Collection of garbage and bulk wastes may be delayed from time to time due to equipment problems or seasonal high waste volumes. In these instances, collection will usually take place within the next 1 to 2 working days.

Eligibility for Service

Garbage and bulk waste collection service are provided to all residential single-family homes & duplexes. A Solid Waste Fee will be charged on the premises utilities bill through Fort Pierce Utilities Authority (FPUA).

Acceptable Waste

Bulk Items - Acceptable bulk waste items include:

  • Building material waste from do-it-yourself projects that do not require a building permit, but excluding commercial waste and contractor generated waste.
  • Furniture, mattresses and toys

Preparing Bulk Waste

  • Place bulk waste away from vehicles, poles, mailboxes and other obstruction adjoining your property. If we are unable to reach your bulk due to blockage. It will not be collected.

Household Appliances (White Goods)

Inoperative and discarded household appliances such as Dishwashers, Dryers, Refrigerators, and Washing machines.

Horticulture / Yard Waste

  • Please do not permit commercial lawn maintenance companies, professional tree trimmers, arborists, landscapers, etc., to leave yard waste curbside. These professionals MUST lawfully haul their generated debris, as per City Ordinance 16-27:5.
  • Place yard waste curbside and at least five feet away from the automated garbage container.  
  • Stained, painted, or treated wood.  Do not mix stained, painted, or treated wood with yard waste. If these wood products are mixed in, the yard waste will not be collected.
  • Yard trash shall not be mixed with garbage for collection.

Note: Waste placed curbside must adjoin the property that generated material.

Unacceptable Waste

  • Automobile parts, bodies, doors, driver trains, motorcycles or parts, lawnmowers or parts, and other similar materials.
  • Bricks, cinder blocks, rocks, concrete, glass, dirt, sand, sod, drywall, tile, grout, construction debris.
  • Commercial waste and contractor-generated waste.
  • Debris from work performed by anyone other than the resident.
  • Private landscapers must dispose of all debris generated by their work. It is the homeowner's responsibility to ensure that the landscaper removes their debris. Homeowners will be charged for any debris left by a landscaper.
  • Debris of any type on vacant lots
  • Limbs and other woody waste longer than 6 feet in length and larger than 6 inches in diameter.
  • Paint or hazardous waste
  • Tree stumps or roots
  • Unbagged leaves, grass, pine straw, and similar material.