The holidays are nearly here, and with them gifts, good times and… Garbage! Here is everything you need to know about weird winter wastes.
Holiday Collection
There is no garbage service in unincorporated Palm Beach County and all SWA facilities are closed on Christmas Day (Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2018). There is no make-up collection day. Garbage collection service will resume Friday, Dec. 28, 2018.
New Year’s Day (Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019) will not affect garbage collection in unincorporated Palm Beach County. All material should be at the curb on New Year’s Day by 6 a.m. as collection service may be much earlier than normal.
While SWA administrative offices will be closed on New Year’s Day, there will be a limited number of Customer Service team members available to assist residents with any garbage or recyclable collection questions or concerns. SWA Customer Service can be reached at 561-697-2700 or 866-792-4636.
Residents in unincorporated Palm Beach County can always see their updated collection schedule, set reminders and sign up for collection information at My Pick-Up Days.
Live in one of Palm Beach County’s 39 municipalities? Contact your municipality directly for their holiday collection schedule. See the list of municipal contacts»
More information on holiday collection can be found online, as can additional information about SWA facilities and hours.
Resolve to Recycle
Many of us celebrate the values we hold most dear at this time of year. Thank you for making Recycling Right a part of your holidays.
Many food and drink containers can be recycled in your blue recycling bin, including:
- Plastic Bottles and Containers – Lids on; 2 gallons or less
- Cans, Food and Beverage
- Glass Bottles and Jars – Lids off
- Cartons, Milk and Juice– Lids on
- Drink Boxes - No pouches
The yellow recycling bin is the place for all fiber, including:
- Cardboard - Cut and flattened to 36-inches x 36-inches or less. If your cardboard is larger, you can take it to one of more than 250 community cardboard drop-off locations.
- Newspapers and Inserts – No plastic bags
- Office and School Paper
- Mail
- Magazines
- Dry Food Boxes – No food stains
- Paper Bags
- Cardboard Paper Rolls
- Pizza Boxes – No food stains; tear the stained side off
Thank you for not placing these items in your blue or yellow recycling bins:
- Plastic Bags
- Foam Products
- Aluminum Foil or Pans
- Shredded Paper
- Plastic Eating Utensils or Straws
- Paper Plates
- Paper Towels or Napkins
- Coat Hangers
- Light Bulbs
- Needles
For more information about Recycling Right, or to order new recycling bins, call 866-NEW-BINS (866-639-2467) or visit SWA.org/RecycleRight.
Electronics Recycling and Home Chemical Disposal
Are you upgrading your electronics or cleaning out the garage after setting up the decorations? Palm Beach County residents can bring outdated devices and wastes such as holiday lights, used cooking oil, old paint, fluorescent light bulbs, batteries, automotive fluids, and more to any of the seven Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County Home Chemical and Recycling Centers. Watch the SWA’s fun parody video on disposing of home chemicals.
The SWA’s locations include (from north county to south):
See the full list of all of the hazardous waste items accepted in the SWA’s program»
Tips for Other Items
- Unincorporated Palm Beach County residents can place their live Christmas tree curbside on the regular yard waste collection day. Remember to remove all decorations, lights and tinsel.
- Pre-lit and artificial trees should be discarded as trash.
- Plastic bags and film (like wrap on water bottle cases) can be recycled at most local supermarkets in special bins. Soiled bags and film should go in the trash.
- Foam food trays and egg cartons can be recycled at most local supermarkets in special bins.
- Oversized and large volumes of flattened cardboard boxes may be recycled at any of the Home Chemical and Recycling Centers or at one of the hundreds of community drop-off locations.
- Holiday ornaments, decorative pieces, clothing and toys that are in good condition can be donated to a local nonprofit, church or shelter to be reused.
- Tree trimmings such as tinsel and garland should be discarded as trash. Palm Beach County residents can bring holiday lights to any of the seven Home Chemical and Recycling Centers.
- Excess trash can be taken to any of the SWA’s transfer stations or the North County Landfill during regular hours, but there is a nominal charge for disposal that is payable in cash only.
Much more information is available online. Residents can also contact SWA Customer Service with their questions or comments at 561-697-2700, toll-free at 866-SWA-INFO (866-792-4636) or email.
Wishing you and your family a Happy Holiday Season from the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County!
