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1. What should I do if my waste is not picked up at the curb?

The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County provides garbage and recycling collection for the residents and businesses of unincorporated Palm Beach County. The SWA provides this service using contract haulers. The County is divided into Service Areas, each of which is awarded to an individual hauler that has the exclusive right to provide service in accordance with the Service Guidelines in their contract.

Contact

Your service is our primary concern. That is why the SWA has a team of Customer Information Service Area Coordinators and Customer Service Representatives ready to assist you with service quality issues and to answer your questions.

If you live in unincorporated Palm Beach County and have a collection problem or concern, you can contact Customer Information Services at 561-697-2700, or toll-free from southern and western Palm Beach County at 866-SWA-INFO (866-792-4636). You can also contact us online.

If you live in a municipality, please contact your city. As a courtesy, we have compiled a list of municipal contacts.

2. Are there holidays when there will be no curbside service?

Waste is collected for unincorporated Palm Beach County residents on all holidays except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. There is no make-up day. But the collection days following those holidays are the only times when waste can be placed outside of the garbage cart to be collected. 

Find your collection schedule and set reminders»

3. How often is garbage picked up curbside in unincorporated Palm Beach County? What are the guidelines for trash pick up?

Curbside garbage collection service is provided twice a week to residents in unincorporated Palm Beach County. Collection is from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. All waste must be placed at the curb by 6 a.m. on the scheduled day. 

All garbage must be placed inside the wheeled cart provided by the contracted waste hauler. Any garbage bags or other debris that is placed outside the cart will be left and must be placed inside the cart for collection on the following scheduled service day. 

Place the cart in front of your own home. Remember: 

• The cart handles should face your house and the arrows on the lid face the street. 
• The cart should be within 6 feet of the roadway, and at least 3 feet from obstructions such as mailboxes, fire hydrants, parked carts, low-hanging tree limbs, etc.

4. What if my garbage cart is broken or stolen?

If the collection truck causes the damage or damage is the result of normal wear, the damaged cart will be repaired or replaced at no charge. Damage resulting from negligence or abuse by the resident will be the responsibility of the resident. Stolen carts will be replaced at no charge to the resident. 

To report a damaged or stolen cart, please contact Customer Information Services»

5. How much yard waste can I set at the curb?

Yard waste is picked up once a week for residents in unincorporated Palm Beach County and each week, a maximum of 6 cubic yards of yard waste is collected. See what six cubic yards looks like»

Yard waste refers to debris from routine residential yard maintenance only. Debris from land clearing or tree removal is not eligible to be collected at the curb. 

To avoid service interruption: 

• Make sure pile does not exceed 6 cubic yards. 
• Keep it separate from other debris and free of dirt or sand. 
• Place loose vegetation like leaves, tree and hedge trimmings, pine needles, etc. in a container such as a paper bag or garbage can. 
• Cut branches into pieces that are no more than 6 feet long, 6 inches in diameter, and weigh no more than 50 pounds each. Palm fronds can be any length. 
• Neatly stack tree branches and palm fronds in a pile that does not exceed 6 cubic yards. 

Piles that exceed 6 cubic yards will not be serviced. They will be tagged and it will be the residents’ responsibility to arrange for removal, either by:

• Hauling it to the Customer Convenience Drop-Off Center at the SWA landfill, an SWA transfer station or permitted disposal facility
• Making arrangements with a private hauler
• Contacting the SWA for a removal estimate based on a contract rate of $8 per cubic yard. Once paid, the yard waste will be removed within 72 hours. 

Note: Coconuts are not yard waste and must be placed in your garbage cart. 

6. Is there a yard waste ordinance?

Yes. Palm Beach County ordinance states that yard waste piles that exceed the maximum 6 cubic yard weekly limit or those that are non-confirming to the regulations above will have no portion of the pile serviced and the property owner will be responsible for its removal. Such piles will be tagged and must be removed within 30 days of original tag to avoid further action or financial penalties.

Read Ordinance 2019-022 (PDF)»

7. Who picks up my trash?

The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County does not pick up waste or recycling at the curb. We do, however, contract waste hauling services for unincorporated Palm Beach County. 

Unincorporated Palm Beach County is divided into 6 service areas (PDF), each of which is awarded to an individual hauler that has the exclusive right to provide service in accordance with the Service Guidelines in their contract. 

For questions or concerns about service provided in your area, call the Solid Waste Authority Customer Information Services Department at 561-697-2700, or 866-SWA-INFO toll-free from southern and western Palm Beach County. 

If you live in a municipality, please contact your municipality or service provider regarding collection concerns or for general information. Listing of service providers for Palm Beach County municipalities»

8. Are bulk items picked up at the curb?

In unincorporated Palm Beach County, bulk item pick up is provided once a week and limited to 3 items per collection day. 

Place items like appliances, furniture and large household items that do not fit in the cart at the curb, making sure that nothing is stacked on top of water or gas meters, under low branches or utility wires, or within 3 feet of mail boxes or fire hydrants. 

For safety reasons, please: 

• Remove or seal doors on all appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, washers and dryers so that children cannot crawl inside and become trapped. 
• Break up all mirrors, glass doors, glass table tops, pane glass, etc. and place them in the cart. 

Bulk that does not meet these guidelines will not be collected. If there is more than three bulk items, call the SWA for an estimate to have the items removed. It is the residents’ responsibility to either modify how the waste is set out so that it meets the guidelines, or transport it to the Customer Convenience Drop-Off Center at the SWA landfill or an SWA transfer station, which does incur a disposal fee. 

Learn more about bringing waste to an SWA facility»

9. How do I pay to drop off items at the landfill or at a transfer station?

Customers disposing of material at the landfill or at an SWA transfer station have the option of paying for their tipping fees with cash, a pre-approved business check or Solid Waste Authority charge account.

To apply for a Solid Waste Authority charge account or check cashing ability visit the Rates & Payment Methods page»

10. How do I dispose of old tires?

There are many ways residents living in unincorporated Palm Beach County can get rid of their unwanted old tires:

• Put old tires out with the trash on either garbage collection day - up to two tires, off the rim, are collected curbside per year for FREE.
• Take old tires to the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County’s Customer Convenience Drop-off Center at the landfill. There will be a charge at this location.
  • Whole passenger tires or whole truck tires without rims will be charged the “passenger tire” rate of $55/ton or $5.50/cubic yard.
  • Oversized tires or mixed load tires will be charged a higher rate ($190/ton or $27/cubic yard).
  • Passenger tires, including tractor trailer tires, cut into four or more substantially equal pieces or oversized/off-road tires shredded to less than 4” x 4” x 2” pieces will be charged $10/ton or $5/cubic yard.

(NOTE: There are specific laws that commercial businesses have to follow.)

Learn more about bringing waste to an SWA facility»

11. Both residents and lawn service personnel pile fallen and trimmed coconuts at the curb. Will they be picked up?

All fruits (coconuts, mangoes, citrus, etc.) should be placed inside the garbage cart for pick up. Branches with fruit still attached can be placed out with the vegetation. 

All other lawn trimmings (pine cones, pine needles, leaves, small hedge clipping, etc.) need to be containerized in paper bags or garbage cans that weigh less than 50 lbs. and placed out with yard waste pick up.

12. I've just completed a minor home construction project. Can I place that debris at the curb?

Construction debris (C&D) from minor home repairs is collected once a week and limited to 2 cubic yards weekly. All such material must be containerized in containers weighing less than 50 pounds when filled, with the exception of carpeting. Carpeting must be cut into 4-foot pieces, rolled and secured into bundles weighing less than 50 pounds. 

C&D that does not meet these guidelines will not be collected. If there is more than 2 cubic yards of C&D, call the SWA for an estimate to have the items removed. It is the residents’ responsibility to either modify how the waste is set out so that it meets the guidelines, or transport it to the Customer Convenience Drop-Off Center at the SWA landfill or an SWA transfer station, which does incur a disposal fee. 

Learn more about bringing waste to an SWA facility»

13. I've found what appears to be an illegal dump. What should I do?

You can do your part to stop illegal dumping by immediately reporting any activity you see. If you live in a municipality, contact your local law enforcement agency. If not, contact the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office at 561-688-3000. Once a report has been filed, contact the SWA at 866-SWA-INFO (866-792-4636) and provide the case number. 

Learn more about illegal dumping»