Your Miami-Dade County Trash Day — Easy to Follow in 2026
If you receive Miami-Dade County Department of Solid Waste Management service, the system is easier once you separate it into four parts: twice-weekly garbage collection, every-other-week recycling, scheduled bulky waste pickups, and neighborhood drop-off centers. This Miami-Dade County trash pickup schedule garbage collection guide keeps the 2026 rules simple and ready for WordPress.
📑 What’s in this guide
Miami-Dade County solid waste customers receive automated waste pickup two days each week and residential recycling collection once every two weeks. Customers can also schedule two bulky waste pickups each calendar year and use 13 Neighborhood Trash and Recycling Centers plus two Home Chemical Collection Centers. This guide is written for county-operated service customers rather than every city in the county.
Outside county: 305-468-5900
Keep carts 5 feet from obstacles
How to Find Your Miami-Dade County Trash Pickup Day
Miami-Dade uses an address-based lookup, so the official county tool is the fastest way to confirm your waste and recycling schedule.
- Open the county lookup tool. Go to the official Garbage & Recycling lookup.
- Enter your exact property address. Then select the Garbage & Recycling tab.
- Check both waste days. Most county customers receive automated waste collection twice per week.
- Check your recycling week. Recycling is collected once every two weeks.
- Use the service pages for bulky pickup or missed service. The county lets eligible customers book bulky waste online or through 311.
Miami-Dade County Trash Pickup Schedule: What Runs When
For standard county-operated residential service, garbage runs twice each week and recycling runs every other week. Bulky waste is not automatic every month; it is appointment-based.
| Service | Container / Set-Out | Typical Frequency | Where to Confirm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waste Collection | Green waste cart | Twice weekly | Garbage & Recycling lookup |
| Recycling | Blue recycling cart | Every other week | Garbage & Recycling lookup / Recycling Alerts |
| Bulky Waste | Curbside pile by appointment | Up to 2 scheduled pickups per year | Bulky pickup page / 311 |
| Drop-Off Disposal | Neighborhood Trash and Recycling Centers | As needed | Neighborhood center locations |
Miami-Dade also notes that curbside recycling collection days changed for some customers in 2025, so the official lookup is more reliable than relying on an old printed memory or a neighbor’s schedule.
Miami-Dade County Green Cart, Blue Cart, and Bulky Waste System
County-operated service uses separate streams for regular garbage, curbside recycling, and bulky material. Each stream follows different setup rules.
Green Cart
Blue Cart
Bulky Pile
Drop-Off Centers
The county says oversized trash such as furniture and household appliances should not go inside the regular waste cart. Those materials should go to a Neighborhood Trash and Recycling Center or be handled through a scheduled bulky waste pickup.
⭐ Easy Miami-Dade shortcut
If something does not fit inside the green cart, stop before you set it out. In Miami-Dade, the right answer is usually either a bulky appointment or a drop-off center, not placing extra items next to the regular garbage cart.
Miami-Dade County Set-Out Rules
Miami-Dade’s collection rules are simple, but spacing and timing matter for both garbage and recycling.
- Place your green waste cart at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day.
- Place the cart within 3 feet of the street and at least 5 feet from mailboxes, parked cars, or other obstacles.
- The wheels must face your home.
- Keep the lid closed. Nothing should protrude from the top of the cart.
- Do not stack items on top of or alongside the waste cart. They will not be collected.
Miami-Dade County Bulky Waste Pickup
Miami-Dade customers can schedule bulky waste service online or through 311. The county lets eligible customers schedule two bulky waste pickups per calendar year.
Common bulky pickup items include:
- Furniture
- Household appliances
- Other oversized residential materials that do not belong in the green cart
- Book the appointment first. Use the official bulky waste scheduler or call 311.
- Set the pile out at the right time. The county says you may place bulky waste no earlier than 3 days before and no later than 7:00 a.m. on your appointment day.
- Place it correctly. The pile should be within 10 feet of the street and at least 5 feet from mailboxes, parked cars, trees, utility poles, sprinkler heads, and similar obstacles.
- Wait until the end of the appointment day. Miami-Dade says the pile will be picked up by 5:00 p.m. on the scheduled date.
- Use 311 if the appointment was missed. If your bulky pile was not collected by the end of the scheduled day, contact 311.
⭐ Miami-Dade resident advantage
The county’s online bulky scheduler is useful because it lets you plan the exact date instead of waiting for a monthly sweep. That makes it easier to time move-outs, cleanups, and large-item disposal.
Miami-Dade County 2026 Holiday Trash Schedule
Miami-Dade’s official 2026 recycling calendar says garbage and recycling will be collected as usual unless noted otherwise. County press releases already confirm that New Year’s Day 2026 runs normally, Martin Luther King Jr. Day suspends regular waste collection, and President’s Day 2026 runs normally.
| 2026 Holiday | Collection Impact |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day — Thursday, January 1, 2026 | Waste and recycling run on a normal schedule |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day — Monday, January 19, 2026 | No regular curbside waste collection; recycling continues on its normal schedule |
| President’s Day — Monday, February 16, 2026 | Waste and recycling run on a normal schedule |
| Most other 2026 dates on the county recycling calendar | Garbage and recycling are collected as usual unless the county posts an exception |
The safest approach is still to check the county’s current notices before major holidays, because Miami-Dade sometimes issues separate press releases about facility hours and service changes.
What to Do If Miami-Dade County Missed Your Pickup
If your garbage or recycling was not collected on the right day, Miami-Dade says to report the missed pickup through an online service request or by calling 311.
- Check your address-based schedule first. Make sure you used the correct waste day or recycling week.
- Confirm the cart rules. The cart should have been out by 7:00 a.m., with clearance from obstacles and nothing stacked beside it.
- Review the holiday note. On MLK Day 2026, for example, regular curbside waste service is suspended.
- Submit a service request. Use Miami-Dade 311 online or call 311.
- Use the outside-county number when needed. If 311 does not connect, call 305-468-5900.
Miami-Dade County Trash and Recycling Center Options
When curbside service is not enough, Miami-Dade customers can use the county’s Neighborhood Trash and Recycling Centers. The county says there are 13 centers, and the service page lists them as open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Neighborhood Trash and Recycling Centers
Official county locations page with hours and center list
Recycling at Home
Bi-weekly curbside recycling rules, alerts, and address lookup guidance
Recycle Right A to Z
Check where specific items belong before putting them in the blue cart
Home Chemical Collection Centers
Official county information for chemicals, propane tanks, and other materials that do not belong in the regular cart
Frequently Asked Questions About Miami-Dade County Trash Pickup
How do I find my Miami-Dade County trash pickup day?
Use the official county Garbage & Recycling lookup tool, enter your address, and select the Garbage & Recycling tab.
How often is garbage collected in Miami-Dade County?
Most residential properties served by Miami-Dade County receive automated waste pickup two days each week.
How often is recycling collected in Miami-Dade County?
Residential recycling collection takes place once every two weeks.
How many bulky waste pickups can I schedule?
Miami-Dade County customers can schedule two bulky waste pickups each calendar year.
What time should I put my carts out?
Place waste and recycling carts at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on collection day.
What is the main 2026 holiday exception I should remember?
The county’s 2026 recycling calendar lists January 19, 2026, Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a no-garbage-collection date. Separate county releases confirm New Year’s Day and President’s Day run on normal schedules.
Can I put extra items next to the green cart?
No. Miami-Dade says items stacked on top of or alongside the waste cart cannot and will not be collected during regular curbside service.
How late will bulky waste be picked up on the appointment day?
The county says bulky waste should be collected by 5:00 p.m. on the scheduled appointment date.
Where can I take bulky or extra trash myself?
County customers can use the Neighborhood Trash and Recycling Centers for additional disposal and recycling needs.
How do I report a missed pickup?
Submit an online service request through Miami-Dade 311 or call 311. Outside Miami-Dade County, call 305-468-5900.
Official Miami-Dade County Trash Collection Resources
Solid Waste Services
Main county hub for pickup lookup, bulky booking, missed-pickup reporting, and billing links
Garbage & Recycling Lookup
Official address-based schedule tool for waste and recycling collection days
Waste Collection
Twice-weekly green cart rules, set-out guidance, and missed-pickup help
Recycling at Home
Every-other-week blue cart rules, alerts, and recycling reminders
Bulky Waste Pickup
Official scheduling tool for twice-yearly bulky appointments
311 Contact Center
Call 311 or 305-468-5900 for missed pickups, bulky questions, and county service help
Reminder: Miami-Dade’s address-based lookup is the safest source of truth for garbage and recycling days, especially after county route or recycling-day changes.