The Department of Solid Waste provides environmentally safe, time responsive, and cost effective collection, disposal and recycling services for over 82,000 residential and commercial customers. The department also oversees the city’s Environmental Programs. Approximately 360,000 tons of solid waste are processed annually at the McKay Bay Refuse-to-Energy Facility where it is converted to electrical energy.

NEWS & INFORMATION 

City "Races to Recycle" for the Third Year

Rainy, windy weather didn’t deter the City’s Recycling Team from recovering almost 2,400 lbs of recyclables over the course of the Publix Super Markets’ Gasparilla Distance Classic Race Weekend. (Full Story)

Gasparilla Gets Greener: Participants Recycle More Than Ever!

Parade attendees were obviously thinking “green” at this year’s Gasparilla Pirate Fest and Children’s Gasparilla Parade! (Full Story)

City Council Recognizes Top Recyclers!

City Council recognized nine Tampa households for outstanding recycling participation yesterday (1/21/10), as part of a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Innovative Recycling Grant. The grant was awarded to the City to study participation barriers to residential and commercial recycling in areas with historically low recycling rates. (Full Story)

Pirates and Public to get "Hooked on Recycling"

The City of Tampa continues its “greening” efforts at the upcoming Gasparilla Parades. This year marks the fourth that the City has implemented recycling programs and staff will be doing their best to get the pirates and the public “hooked on recycling”. Last year, the community recycled more than 11 tons of corrugated cardboard boxes and commingled containers including plastic and aluminum bottles and cans! (Full Story).

2009 Poetry and T-shirt Project

Results: 2009 America Recycles Day Poetry and T-Shirt Design Project

Next Household Chemical and Electronics Collection

• Saturday, April 24, 2010
• 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• In the Vacant parking lot on the South side of
  Bird Street (exit I-275 N @ Bird Street).

Materials accepted include:

• Paints and solvents
• Used motor oil
• Automotive products
• Pool chemicals
• Mercury containing devices, such as
  fluorescent light bulbs & thermometers
• Lawn, garden and household chemicals
• Electronics, including computer monitors, printers, CPU’s, keyboards, and televisions

NO EXPLOSIVE, RADIOACTIVE OR BIO-MEDICAL WASTES ACCEPTED
 

2010 S.W.E.E.P. Schedule

ATTENTION: Cardboard Curbside Recycling Guidelines:
Please note that we are only able to accept cardboard curbside, as follows: 

• Folded and/or cut down
• Size not to exceed 11” X 17”
• Must fit in your blue box
• Extend no more than 10” from the box rim

Our recycling trucks are not equipped to handle larger-sized cardboard, however the City does offer free cardboard drop-off for recycling at 2 sites:

Manhattan Brush Site - 7215 S. Manhattan Ave..

McKay Bay Refuse-To-Energy Facility - 107 N. 34th St..

        - Curbside Recycling Program Expansion

        - Curbside Recycling Guidelines Brochure (PDF)

          Special Events and Festivals Waste Reduction and Recycling Best Management Practices Guide

• Hours at Manhattan Brush Site
• Recycling Drop-Off Locations
• Yard Waste Recycling Program Expanded
• Map to the Solid Waste Department Administration Offices
• Holiday Collection Schedule / Special Events
• Household Chemical & Electronics Collection Program
• Solid Waste Code
• 2009 America Recycles Day Poetry and T-Shirt Design Project
• America Recycles Day School Pledge Card Contest
• 2008 Recycled Yard Art Project Results (Florida Yards & Neighborhoods)

Need a new blue box? Request a new one.
Missed Blue Box pickup? Let us know.

Recycle your old blue bins: Leave your cracked, broken blue bins curbside on your pick up day for collection (please leave a note on the bin stating that you would like it replaced). The old bins will be taken to the processing facility and recycled.