Residential Waste Services

Dozens of blue garbage and recycling bins stacked on top of one another.

Residential Waste & Recycling Services

Welcome to our comprehensive range of residential waste services, designed to meet the specific needs of Islamorada's community. Whether it’s regular garbage collection, eco-friendly recycling, or specialized yard waste disposal, our services are tailored to ensure convenience, sustainability, and reliability. Explore each section to find out how we can help keep your home and our island community clean and green.

Regular Garbage Pickup Services

Island Disposal offers dependable and regular garbage collection services for the residents of Islamorada. We ensure your household waste is managed efficiently, with schedules designed to meet the community's needs. Our team is committed to punctual and hassle-free pickups, keeping your home and neighborhood clean and hygienic.

Standard Service Guidelines

Household trash and recycling materials must be placed in the carts provided; bagged or stacked items will not be collected as part of normal service. You must call for non-containerized items to be removed.

  • Each home is provided one 96-gallon Blue Trash Cart and one 96-gallon Blue with Yellow Lid Recycle Cart
  • Blue Trash Carts are emptied twice each week.
  • Blue with Yellow Lid Recycle Carts are emptied once each week.
  • Set carts within 6 feet of the roadside and 6 feet apart (if possible) with arrows pointing toward the roadway.
Dozens of blue garbage and recycling bins stacked on top of one another.

Did you know?

Plastic bags and polystyrene products remain in the environment for 500 to 1,000 years. You can make a difference by avoiding these products!

Plastic and other trash underwater.

Sustainable Recycling Solutions

Embrace a greener lifestyle with our comprehensive recycling services. We help you contribute to environmental sustainability by making recycling convenient and straightforward. From paper and plastics to metals and glass, our easy-to-follow guidelines and regular recycling pickups ensure that your efforts to recycle don’t go to waste.

Recycle bin with empty plastic bottles with mangrove trees in the background.

What goes into my recycling Bin?

CLEAN ALL recyclables and place them into your BLUE WITH YELLOW LID recycling cart. Items are sorted at the facility.

Metal

  • Aluminum Cans (rinsed/cleaned)
  • Tin cans
  • Aluminum Foil and foil containers (CLEAN ONLY)

Paper (must be kept dry)

  • Brown Paper Bags
  • Catalogs and magazines
  • Telephone books and paperback books
  • Fax and copy paper, construction paper
  • Corrugated Cardboard (broken down)
  • CLEAN parts of pizza boxes (the top is usually clean)
  • Juice, Milk, and Soup cartons (rinsed/cleaned)
  • Junk Mail, including envelopes
  • Newspaper with Inserts
  • Paper Egg Cartons

Plastics And Glass

  • Jars and Bottles (clean and caps removed)
  • All plastics labeled #1, #2, select #5 (rinsed/cleaned) No Styrofoam
  • Bottle caps and most lids are not recyclable. If there is no number on the plastic, throw it in the trash.
  • Household items such as dishes and drinking glasses are not recyclable.

Not Allowed In Recycling Bins

NO paper towels, napkins, microwave popcorn bags, batteries, liquids, food, aerosol cans, bottle caps, Styrofoam, packaging foam, plastic bags, or garbage bags in your recycling carts.

Food-soiled recyclables must be cleaned before recycling or thrown in the trash if not cleaned. Aluminum Foil and foil containers may be recycled only if completely cleaned—no food residue remaining.

Computer & Electronic Waste

  • Contact Island Disposal to schedule a residential roadside pick-up of televisions, electronic entertainment devices, computers, monitors, printers, fax machines and mobile phones

Household items such as dishes and drinking glasses are not recyclable.

DO NOT PLACE PLASTIC SHOPPING BAGS IN YOUR RECYCLING CONTAINER.

Recycling Facts

Recycling correctly is crucial for environmental sustainability and the efficiency of our waste management systems. In our 'Dos and Don'ts of Recycling' section, you'll find essential guidelines to help you recycle more effectively. This guide is designed to clarify common misconceptions and provide clear instructions on what can and cannot be recycled.

By following these simple rules, you can make a significant difference in keeping Islamorada green and reducing waste.

Unclean recyclables contaminate entire loads and may lead to loads of recycling being transferred to trash dumping sites. Rinse and clean all recyclables.

Avoid plastic shopping bags, they are a petroleum-based product that can harm and kill wildlife when they blow into the environment and the plastic releases dangerous chemicals into the land and water as it breaks down. Many reusable bag options are available. If you use plastic shopping bags, please recycle them at a local grocery store collection container. DO NOT PLACE PLASTIC SHOPPING BAGS IN YOUR RECYCLING CONTAINER.

Avoid Polystyrene products and Styrofoam, they are petroleum and chemical-based products that pose dangers to human health and the environment. Do not place Styrofoam in your recycling container.

Eco-Friendly Yard Waste Disposal

Keep your gardens and yards pristine with our yard waste collection services. Whether it's leaves, grass clippings, or small branches, we provide eco-friendly disposal solutions that contribute to the health of our local environment. Our yard waste services are tailored to the unique flora of Islamorada, ensuring your green waste is managed responsibly.

Yard waste (vegetation) is collected manually in 32–gallon containers (provided by the resident) or bundled and tied piles.

  • Each home may set out six 32-gallon containers or six bundles to be collected once per week.
  • Containers and/or bundles may not weigh more than 50 pounds each.
  • Branches must be cut to 4 feet in length.
  • Christmas trees are collected at the roadside.

Do not mix trash with vegetative waste in carts or bulk piles. Vegetation is recycled. Higher trash rate will be charged for mixed piles.

    Pile of palm fronds.
    Couch and mattress ready for waste pickup.

    Bulky Item Removal Services

    For larger items that can't be handled by regular waste collection, we offer special roadside pick-up. From furniture to appliances, let us help you dispose of your large items safely and efficiently. Schedule a pickup, and our team will take care of the rest, ensuring a hassle-free experience.

    Oversized Yard Waste:  Neatly pile your palm fronds, coconuts, and tree branches at the roadside. All must be cut to 6 feet in length. Fees apply.

    White Goods: Neatly pile your unwanted household furniture and appliances at the roadside. No Fee.

    Carpeting: Roll and tie your 6-foot-wide carpeting pieces and place them at the roadside. No Fee.

    Construction and Automotive Debris: Before setting out this debris, contact our solid waste provider to discuss whether a special pick-up or the delivery of a dumpster is right for your situation. Fees apply.

    Oversized Recyclable Materials: Neatly pile your oversized recyclable items, such as moving boxes, furniture, and appliance cardboard boxes at the roadside. No Fee.

    Do not pile items underwires, near fire hydrants, or near trees. Do not mix items together.

    Hazardous Household Collection Program

    Four times a year, Islamorada residents may take household hazardous waste products for free disposal to a special drop off location.

    Household hazardous waste collection is an effort to remove hazardous materials from the waste stream and to properly control the disposal of the products. Waste disposal is available to residential customers only and proof of Islamorada residency will be required.

    Visit www.islamorada.fl.us for quarterly collection dates and location.

    used motor oil, antifreeze

    hydraulic fluids, paints, stains, strippers, wood preservatives

    roof and tar patching compounds

    adhesives, putty, caulk, fiberglass, and epoxy resins

    acetone, mineral spirits

    muriatic acid, lye

    pesticides, fertilizers, and weed killer

    household and drain cleaners

    pool cleaning products

    tires off the rim that do not exceed a light-duty SUV

    batteries of all sizes

    electronic and florescent lighting waste

    E-Waste Disposal (Computer & Electronic Waste)

    Contact Island Disposal to schedule a residential roadside pick-up of televisions, electronic entertainment devices, computers, monitors, printers, fax machines, and mobile phones. Service is year-round. Pickups will be made within five working days.

    Electronic waste is also accepted at the quarterly Residential Household Hazardous Collections.

    FAQs

    Find answers to common questions about our residential waste services.

    How do I set up a service?

    Setting up your service is easy. Contact us via phone or fill out our online form, and we'll get you started with a schedule that suits your needs.

    How do I pay my bill online?

    Visit your client portal here.

    What can I recycle?

    Our recycling program accepts a variety of materials, including paper, cardboard, plastics, glass, and metals. For a detailed list and guidelines, visit our recycling brochure.

    How should I prepare yard waste for collection?

    Yard waste (vegetation) should be placed in 32–gallon containers or bundled and tied piles. Branches must be cut to 4 feet in length. You will need to request a special pick up for oversized yard waste. Neatly pile your palm fronds, coconuts, and tree branches at the roadside. All must be cut to 6 feet in length. For more information, click here.

    How do I dispose of hazardous waste?

    Hazardous waste should not be disposed of in regular garbage or recycling bins. Four times a year, Islamorada residents may take household hazardous waste products for free disposal to a special drop off location. Visit www.islamorada.fl.us for quarterly collection dates and location.

    What should I do with bulky items?

    Bulky items like furniture and appliances require special disposal. Request your pickup here.

    What are the pickup days for trash and recycling?

    You may view our pickup schedule here.

    Still have questions?

    Don't hesitate to reach out! We're here to provide you with all the information you need to make informed decisions about your waste services needs.

    Ready for a greener, cleaner Islamorada?

    Islamorada mangroves growing over blue-green waters.