Lee County Trash Pickup & Garbage Schedule 2026
This guide covers Lee County, Florida. For most homes in the county’s curbside system, garbage, recycling, and yard waste are all collected once a week. The main things to remember are your exact pickup day, your franchise hauler, the 5:30 a.m. set-out deadline, and the fact that holiday delays only happen when a listed holiday falls on a weekday.
📑 What’s in this guide
- Find your Lee County pickup day by address
- Collection schedule overview
- Garbage cans, recycling carts, yard waste, and special pickups
- Set-out rules
- Large items, tires, appliances, and electronics
- 2026 holiday schedule
- Missed pickup — what to do
- Drop-off and chemical waste options
- Lee County trash FAQs
Lee County’s residential program is more generous than many county systems. The official curbside page says eligible residences receive once-a-week, unlimited curbside collection of garbage, recycling, and yard waste, plus access to special services like bulky-item pickup and up to two curbside car tires per week. The exact hauler and pickup day depend on your service area and address.
No more than 24 hours early
How to Find Your Lee County Trash Pickup Day (Fast Lookup)
Lee County provides an official address lookup that shows your garbage, recycling, and yard waste pickup day. That tool is the best option because service provider and route details vary by area.
- Open the official address lookup. Go to Find My Waste Pickup Days.
- Enter your exact address. The map will show your curbside collection details.
- Check your hauler if needed. Lee County also offers a garbage company by ZIP code page.
- Use Recycle Coach for reminders. The county’s address-based app provides alerts, schedule reminders, and weather-delay updates.
- Check holiday weeks separately. The holiday rule only changes service when the listed holiday falls on a weekday.
Lee County Trash Pickup Schedule: What Runs When
Lee County keeps the regular residential schedule consistent. Garbage, recycling, and yard waste are all picked up once each week for eligible homes, while certain special pickups follow the regular collection day with different handling.
| Service | How It Works | Typical Frequency | Where to Confirm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garbage | 40-gallon cans or county-issued automated container depending service area | Weekly | Address lookup / approved containers |
| Recycling | County wheeled recycling cart | Weekly | Address lookup / approved containers |
| Yard Waste | Container or bundle, with 50-pound limit | Weekly | Address lookup / yard waste page |
| Large Bulky Items | Furniture and household appliances available as needed | As needed | Curbside services / hauler |
| Tires | Up to two car tires per week at curb | As needed | Curbside services |
| Electronics | Placed next to but separated from regular garbage | On regular trash day | Appliance & electronics disposal page |
Lee County also notes that there is no limit on how many recyclables you can set out each week, and extra flattened cardboard can be placed next to the recycling cart if it does not fit inside.
Lee County Garbage Cans, Recycling Carts, Yard Waste, and Special Pickup System
Lee County uses a mixed curbside system. Garbage can rules are stricter than recycling rules, and yard waste has its own bundling and weight requirements.
Garbage
Recycling
Yard Waste
Special Pickups
Garbage cans must stay within the county’s size and weight limits. Recycling goes in approved county carts, and Lee County specifically says not to use plastic bags as recycling containers or put plastic bags into the recycling cart.
⭐ Easy Lee County shortcut
If you are ever unsure, separate the issue into two parts: regular weekly collection or special curbside handling. Garbage, recycling, and yard waste are the weekly basics. Appliances, electronics, and some bulky items follow your regular day but are handled differently.
Lee County Set-Out Rules
Lee County’s curbside timing is very clear. Following the timing and placement rules is one of the easiest ways to avoid a missed pickup.
- Set household garbage, yard waste, and recycling out by 5:30 a.m. on your scheduled collection day.
- Do not set out trash more than 24 hours before pickup.
- Place cans, carts, or bags within six feet of the roadside.
- Leave at least three feet of space between your cart and mailboxes, other containers, or obstacles.
- Remove empty containers within 48 hours after collection.
- Point automated carts with the arrow facing the street.
Lee County Large Items, Tires, Appliances, and Electronics
Lee County includes several special curbside options beyond the normal weekly garbage and recycling service.
Common special curbside items include:
- Large bulky items such as furniture
- Household appliances like stoves, washers, and dryers
- Electronics such as computers, printers, and televisions
- Up to two car tires per week
- For missed pickups or appliance special pickups, call your franchised garbage company. Lee County’s special-pickup page directs residents to their hauler for this service.
- Set large appliances out on your regular collection day. The hauler will tag the item and send a truck within three business days after your regular day.
- For electronics, place them curbside next to but separated from regular garbage.
- Prepare appliances safely. Lee County says doors on refrigerators, freezers, washers, and dryers should be removed or sealed with heavy packing tape.
- For household chemicals, do not use curbside pickup. Take them to the Topaz Court facility or a mobile collection event.
⭐ Best Lee County move
Electronics and chemicals are not the same. Electronics can go curbside next to your regular garbage on trash day, but household chemicals should never be placed at the curb.
Lee County 2026 Holiday Trash Schedule
Lee County’s official holiday page lists six no-collection holidays for garbage, yard waste, recycling, and special pickups of electronics and bulky items. If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, regular service is not affected. If it falls on a weekday, the rest of the week shifts one day later.
| 2026 Holiday | Collection Impact |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day — Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026 | Thursday routes move to Friday and Friday routes move to Saturday |
| Memorial Day — Monday, May 25, 2026 | Monday routes move to Tuesday and the rest of the week shifts one day later |
| Independence Day — Saturday, July 4, 2026 | No schedule change because the holiday falls on a weekend |
| Labor Day — Monday, Sept. 7, 2026 | Monday routes move to Tuesday and the rest of the week shifts one day later |
| Thanksgiving Day — Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026 | Thursday routes move to Friday and Friday routes move to Saturday |
| Christmas Day — Friday, Dec. 25, 2026 | Friday routes move to Saturday |
That same holiday rule also applies to special pickups of electronics and bulky items according to the county’s holiday page.
What to Do If Lee County Missed Your Pickup
If something was left at the curb, Lee County points residents to their franchise hauler first. The county also lists a general Solid Waste phone number for support.
- Check the holiday schedule first. The county only delays service when the listed holiday falls on a weekday.
- Review your timing. Items should have been out by 5:30 a.m. and not too early the day before.
- Make sure spacing was correct. Carts need at least three feet of clearance from obstacles and other containers.
- Call your franchised garbage collection company. The missed-pickup page specifically directs residents there for missed pickups and appliance special pickups.
- Use Lee County Solid Waste if you still need help. Call 239-533-8000.
Lee County Drop-Off and Chemical Waste Options
Some materials should not go to the curb. Lee County has special drop-off and collection options for household chemicals and other hard-to-handle materials.
Household Chemicals
Most household chemical waste can be brought to the Topaz Court facility in Fort Myers
Mobile Chemical Waste Events
County-run collection events at various locations around Lee County during 2026
Appliances & Electronics
Official disposal instructions for large appliances, electronics, and curbside set-out rules
Recycle Coach
Address-based schedule, reminders, alerts, item-search help, and depot lookup
Topaz Court note: Lee County’s household chemical page says most household chemical waste can be brought to the Topaz Court Solid Waste Facility at 6441 Topaz Court in Fort Myers. Electronics may also be taken there for recycling, but they can also go curbside on your regular trash day if placed next to, not mixed with, regular garbage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lee County Trash Pickup
How do I find my Lee County trash pickup day?
Use the official Find My Waste Pickup Days lookup and search your address.
Is garbage collected every week in Lee County, Florida?
Yes. Lee County’s curbside page says residents receive once-a-week curbside collection of garbage.
Is recycling weekly in Lee County?
Yes. Lee County’s curbside page says residents also receive once-a-week curbside recycling collection.
Is yard waste weekly in Lee County?
Yes. Lee County provides one curbside yard waste collection each week.
What time should I set out trash in Lee County?
Set household garbage, yard waste, and recycling curbside by 5:30 a.m. on your scheduled day, and do not put it out more than 24 hours early.
Can I use plastic bags for recyclables?
No. Lee County says not to use plastic bags as recycling containers and not to put plastic bags into the recycling cart.
How much yard waste can I put out?
Yard waste must be in a container weighing 50 pounds or less, or tied into bundles no heavier than 50 pounds and no longer than 6 feet.
Can I put electronics at the curb?
Yes. Electronics can be placed curbside next to, but separated from, regular garbage on your trash day.
How are large appliances collected?
Set large appliances at the curb on your regular collection day. The hauler will tag the item and send a truck within three business days after that day.
Which 2026 holidays change Lee County trash pickup?
New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas will delay collection in 2026 because they fall on weekdays. Independence Day falls on a Saturday in 2026, so the county says your schedule will not be affected.
Official Lee County Trash Collection Resources
Curbside Services
Main Lee County residential curbside page for garbage, recycling, yard waste, bulky items, and tire pickup
Holiday Schedule
Official county holiday-delay rules for garbage, recycling, yard waste, electronics, and bulky pickups
Yard Waste
Weekly yard-waste rules, weight limits, and bundling instructions
Approved Containers
Garbage-can rules, recycling-cart rules, and extra-cardboard guidance
Missed Pickups / Special Pickups
Official instructions for missed collections and appliance special pickup requests
Recycle Coach
Address-based reminders, emergency alerts, and item disposal help
Reminder: The safest way to avoid curbside mistakes in Lee County is to check your exact address in the official pickup-day tool before every holiday week and before putting out any special items.