Tampa Recycling Guide & 2026 Calendar
Single-stream recycling pickup is listed for Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Item-specific answers appear below.
Tampa recycling calendar 2026
Regular collection days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Check the current holiday delay notice for changes to regular pickup.
A verified 2026 recycling calendar has not been provided. Get the official calendar and confirm your route.
Accepted & prohibited recycling
Accepted items
- Paper: clean paper envelopes (including plastic window envelopes), magazines, catalogs, mail, office paper
- Cardboard: corrugated cardboard boxes and clean paperboard egg cartons
- Aluminum and metal cans: beverage cans, food cans, and clean aluminum bottles
- Plastic bottles and containers: rigid bottles and jugs larger than the size of a fist
Prohibited items
- Plastic bags, plastic wrap, and film tanglers (never bag recyclables; place loose in cart)
- Aseptic cartons (juice boxes, broth cartons, and shelf-stable milk cartons)
- Pizza boxes soiled with grease, cheese, or food residue
- Shredded paper (cannot be sorted properly and ruins glass quality)
- Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam cups, plates, foam egg trays, and packing foam)
- Electronics, batteries, and hazardous materials
- Clothing, textiles, ropes, cords, and garden hoses
- Single-use disposable cutlery, plastic straws, plates, cups, and napkins
- Scrap metal items and automotive parts
Can you recycle these items in Tampa?
Can you recycle cardboard in Tampa?
AcceptedFlatten boxes completely and place loose in cart; do not jam boxes into the cart.
Can you recycle pizza boxes in Tampa?
Not acceptedPizza boxes soiled with grease, cheese, and food residue are not accepted and must go in the trash.
Can you recycle plastic #1 in Tampa?
AcceptedRinse clean PET plastic beverage bottles larger than the size of a fist; place loose in the green cart.
Can you recycle plastic #2 in Tampa?
AcceptedRinse clean HDPE jugs (milk, detergent); place loose with caps on.
Can you recycle plastic #3 in Tampa?
Not acceptedRigid PVC plastics labeled #3 are not accepted in the curbside recycling stream.
Can you recycle plastic #4 in Tampa?
Not acceptedPlastic films, grocery bags, and wraps are tanglers and strictly prohibited from curbside carts.
Can you recycle plastic #5 in Tampa?
AcceptedClean polypropylene food tubs larger than a fist are accepted loose in the cart.
Can you recycle plastic #6 in Tampa?
Not acceptedPolystyrene foam cups, trays, and food containers labeled #6 are not accepted.
Can you recycle plastic #7 in Tampa?
Not acceptedOther miscellaneous resins labeled #7 are not accepted for curbside recycling.
Can you recycle glass in Tampa?
AcceptedClean glass bottles and jars larger than a fist are accepted loose in the cart.
Can you recycle aluminum in Tampa?
AcceptedRinse beverage and food cans clean; place free and loose in the green cart.
Can you recycle shredded paper in Tampa?
Not acceptedShredded paper has short fibers that contaminate sorting systems and glass; place in household trash.
DPW & sanitation contact
City of Tampa Solid Waste and Environmental Program Management · municipal dpw
Phone: 813-274-8811
4010 West Spruce StreetTampa, FL 33607
These collection rules cover Zone City of Tampa Curbside Service Area.
Trash & recycling questions
What days is trash collected in Tampa, FL?
Listed trash collection days are Monday and Tuesday and Thursday and Friday. Set containers out Place the cart at the curb with a 3-foot clearance on all sides the night before your designated pickup day, or before 6 a.m. on your pickup day. Carts must be removed by sunset on the day of collection and placed in a location not visible from the street.. These rules apply to Zone City of Tampa Curbside Service Area.
Is garbage pickup delayed for holidays in Tampa?
As of 2026-09-23: No observed holidays this week. Collections follow the regular schedule. Pickups on a listed holiday are skipped until the next scheduled cycle. Observed holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. These rules apply to Zone City of Tampa Curbside Service Area.
How do I schedule bulk trash pickup in Tampa?
Residential customers get one prescheduled S.W.E.E.P. collection every year for up to 10 cubic yards of bulky items at no additional charge. For off-cycle or additional bulky disposal, residents can schedule a special pickup with customer service at $18.12 per cubic yard, or drop off large items for free at the McKay Bay Scale House. The listed limit is 10 items per pickup. Advance notice is not required under the listed rules. Contact sanitation at 813-274-8811 to confirm eligibility and arrange service. These rules apply to Zone City of Tampa Curbside Service Area.
What items are accepted for recycling in Tampa?
The listed accepted materials are Paper: clean paper envelopes (including plastic window envelopes), magazines, catalogs, mail, office paper, Cardboard: corrugated cardboard boxes and clean paperboard egg cartons, Aluminum and metal cans: beverage cans, food cans, and clean aluminum bottles, Plastic bottles and containers: rigid bottles and jugs larger than the size of a fist. Keep these listed prohibited items out: Plastic bags, plastic wrap, and film tanglers (never bag recyclables; place loose in cart), Aseptic cartons (juice boxes, broth cartons, and shelf-stable milk cartons), Pizza boxes soiled with grease, cheese, or food residue, Shredded paper (cannot be sorted properly and ruins glass quality), Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam cups, plates, foam egg trays, and packing foam), Electronics, batteries, and hazardous materials, Clothing, textiles, ropes, cords, and garden hoses, Single-use disposable cutlery, plastic straws, plates, cups, and napkins, Scrap metal items and automotive parts. Confirm item-specific preparation rules with the official sanitation office. These rules apply to Zone City of Tampa Curbside Service Area.