Trash and Recycling Collection in Lee County, Florida

Lee County is located in southwest Florida and includes the cities of Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Estero, and Sanibel Island. The county provides trash and recycling collection services to over 330,000 households. This article covers key details like service schedules, holiday changes, disposal guidelines, and resources for Lee County residents and businesses.

Residential Trash and Recycling

• Lee County is divided into 6 residential collection areas, each with designated service days.

• Trash collection is either 1 or 2 days per week depending on location.

• Recycling and yard waste are collected weekly.

• Residents are provided with rollout carts – garbage carts are 96 gallons, recycling and yard waste carts are 64 gallons.

• Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 AM on collection days.

• Bulk items like furniture can be collected weekly on your trash day.

Use the Lee County collection map lookup to find your designated collection days.

Holiday Schedule

If a holiday falls on a normal collection day, pickup is delayed by one day:

• New Year’s Day – No collection on January 1st

• Memorial Day – No collection on Last Monday in May

• Independence Day – No collection on July 4th

• Labor Day – No collection on 1st Monday of September

• Thanksgiving – No collection on 4th Thursday of November

• Christmas Day – No collection on December 25th

View the full holiday collection schedule here.

Recycling Guidelines

Lee County recycles paper, cardboard, aluminum and steel cans, glass bottles and jars, and plastic containers labeled #1-#5 and #7.

Do NOT include plastic bags, food waste, yard waste, styrofoam, or hazardous waste in recycling bins.

More recycling guidelines can be found here.

Yard Waste Collection

• Yard waste is collected weekly on designated day.

• Grass clippings, leaves, shrub prunings must be placed in cans or paper bags.

• Tree branches and palm fronds must be bundled and tied in 4-foot sections under 50 pounds.

• Yard waste carts can also be used if provided by hauler.

Hazardous Waste Disposal

• Household hazardous waste like chemicals, batteries, paints, etc. should NOT go in normal trash.

• Lee County holds regular collection events to properly dispose of household hazardous waste.

• Year-round drop-off also available at the Solid Waste Management facility.

Full list of accepted hazardous items and drop-off details here.

Commercial Trash Collection

• Small businesses can utilize residential collection services.

• Larger businesses can contract directly with a private hauler.

• Restaurants must have grease trap installed and serviced.

• Businesses should have proper dumpster enclosures.

More commercial collection information can be found here.

Additional Lee County Resources

• Solid Waste Customer Service – Contact for any trash/recycling questions, issues, or requests.

• Free Mulch Locations – Lee County provides free mulch from yard waste at various sites.

• Missed Pickup Form – Report a missed collection online.

• Order Extra Carts – Form to request additional carts for trash, recycling, or yard waste.

• Hauler Contact Information – Find direct contacts for all residential haulers.

Knowing your designated collection days and following Lee County guidelines helps ensure smooth waste and recycling services. Use the resources provided above for further information.