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1. How often will garbage be collected?

Curbside residential garbage collection service will remain at two (2) days a week in unincorporated Palm Beach County when the new contract takes effect on Oct. 1, 2019.

2. How will garbage collection change? What is automated collection?

Residential curbside service will change from the current manual collection system to automated/semi-automated residential curbside garbage collection service in unincorporated Palm Beach County when the new contract takes effect on Oct. 1, 2019.

Automated service involves a truck equipped with a mechanical arm that extends and dumps a special cart designed for the truck. The truck requires one person operating the arm from inside the truck cab.

Semi-automated service is a truck equipped with two (2) mechanical flippers located on the back of a rear load truck. This truck requires two (2) employees (usually a driver and helper) and eliminates the current manual lifting element of the job.

There are special heavy-duty carts compatible with the haulers automated or semi-automated collection equipment. The hauler awarded the seven (7) year contract is responsible for purchasing, delivering, and as necessary, repairing and replacing these carts.

An example of an automated collection truck

3. How big are the new garbage carts? Can I choose a different size?

The SWA would expect the majority of customers in unincorporated Palm Beach County would prefer the 96 gallon cart based on the average weekly volumes reported by the current service providers. SWA staff will be working with gated or HOA communities within unincorporated Palm Beach County to identify the cart size preference (48, 65 or 96 gallon cart) for the majority of the residents.

The only cart requests being taken at this time are for those residents who are:

1. physically unable to maneuver the 96-gallon cart and don't have another member of the household who can do so
2. received a smaller cart due to the choice of their community and need a larger cart

4. When will the new carts be delivered?

All new garbage carts should have already been delivered to residents in unincorporated Palm Beach County for start of the new collection contract as of Oct. 1, 2019. Each cart should have contained a pamphlet explaining the service requirements and proper placement of the container for curbside collection. Additional mailers were sent with your new collection days.

If you have not received your new garbage cart, you can:

1. Call SWA Customer Service at 561-697-2700 to request one
2. Email Carts@SWA.org with your Name. Address. Community name, if applicable. Phone number. Email. ISSUE-haven't received first garbage cart

Special attention will be given to these inquiries.

If you are not sure of your new collection days, you can check them on the My Collection Days link

The hauler awarded the seven (7) year contract is responsible for purchasing, delivering, and as necessary, repairing and replacing the special heavy duty carts compatible with the haulers automated or semi-automated collection equipment. So, if your cart is damaged, call SWA Customer Service at 561-697-2700 to request a repair.

5. What if I have more garbage than will fit in my new cart?

All garbage is required to be placed within the container on both scheduled collection days in unincorporated Palm Beach County. It garbage is left outside of the cart, it will not be collected.

Haulers are only required to collect additional garbage and trash placed outside the cart due to additional waste generated following the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

6. Will bulk item collection change?

In unincorporated Palm Beach County, bulk items (furniture, appliances, etc.) will be collected one (1) day per week on the second scheduled garbage collection day of the week. Bulk collection is limited to three (3) items per pick up.

To check your bulk collection day, enter your address on the My Pick Up Days page.

7. Will recycling collection change?

There are no changes to the recycling collection service in unincorporated Palm Beach County. Recycling collection will be provided one day per week. The yellow bin is for paper products and blue bin for commingle containers (aluminum, steel cans, plastic containers and glass bottles and jars).

8. Will yard waste collection change?

Yard waste collection service will be provided one time per week in unincorporated Palm Beach County. This service is limited to normal residential yard waste maintenance, such as grass cutting, tree pruning, palm frond cutting, hedge trimming, etc. The service is not intended for debris related to land clearing or tree removal. 

Yard waste service will be limited to one (1) 6 (6) cubic yard pile per week and no more may be placed at the curb.

All small yard waste debris (leaves, clippings, hedge trimmings, etc.) must be containerized. We strongly encourage residents to use their current garbage containers for small yard waste debris for the new contract effective Oct. 1, 2019. Plastic bags are acceptable, however the Authority would like to discourage their use. A significant amount of the yard waste is ground to produce mulch. Much of this mulch can be land applied on agricultural fields, however the plastic bags contaminate the mulch, which is problematic. 

Branches and palm fronds may be placed neatly outside the container. While there is no limit on the length of palm fronts, branches may not exceed six (6) feet in length or six (6) inches in diameter and no single piece or container may exceed fifty (50) pounds. It is important to remember that the bulk of this material is picked up by hand, and material that exceeds these limits presents a risk to the collection personnel and cannot be collected.

9. What if more than six cubic yards of yard waste is placed at the curb?

The contractor will not remove any yard waste piles exceeding the 6 cubic yard limit. The contractor will place a tag on the pile informing the customer of their options. 

The resident will be responsible for having piles exceeding six (6) cubic yards or containing tree removal debris, large branches or stumps removed at their own cost in a timely manner to avoid further action. The SWA can assist the homeowner in identifying alternatives, including providing an estimate for the contractor to remove the material for an additional fee of $8 per cubic yard. The homeowner is free to contract with anyone they wish to remove the material.