In Miami-Dade County, recycling pickup runs every other week — but your exact day depends entirely on your address. There is no single countywide collection day.
Depending on where you live, your recycling runs on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. You are also assigned to either an “A week” or “B week” rotation, which determines which of the two weeks each month your cart gets picked up.
If you are unsure of your schedule, you can confirm it in under 60 seconds using the official Miami-Dade address lookup tool — more on that below.
Quick Summary
- Recycling in Miami-Dade is bi-weekly (every two weeks), not weekly
- Your assigned day and A/B week are based on your specific address
- Place your blue recycling cart at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day
- Items must be loose in the cart — no plastic bags, ever
- Holiday delays affect garbage more than recycling — but Christmas is fully suspended
- If your pickup is missed due to a holiday, it does not resume the next day — you wait until your next scheduled two-week rotation
How to Find Your 2026 Miami-Dade Recycling Day
Miami-Dade County does not publish a single schedule for all residents. Your collection day, your A/B week, and your route are all tied to your specific address.
Here are the three official ways to find your schedule:
Option 1 — Online address lookup (fastest) Use the Miami-Dade Community Services GIS tool: 👉 gisweb.miamidade.gov/communityservices Enter your full address and the tool will show your garbage and recycling day, your zone, and your A/B week assignment.
Option 2 — Download your PDF calendar Miami-Dade mailed 2026 recycling calendars to all residents. If you did not receive yours, download your route’s calendar directly from the county: 👉 Miami-Dade 2026 Recycling Calendars (PDF) Separate calendars exist for each weekday (Monday–Friday) and each A/B route variation.
Option 3 — Call the county Phone: 311 (Miami-Dade resident line) Direct: 305-514-6666 Department: Miami-Dade Department of Solid Waste Management (DSWM) Website: miamidade.gov/solidwaste
2026 Miami-Dade Recycling Schedule at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Collection frequency | Bi-weekly (every other week) |
| Assigned days | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday |
| Schedule type | A week or B week rotation |
| Cart placement deadline | 7:00 a.m. on your collection day |
| Cart clearance | At least 5 feet from mailboxes, cars, and trees |
| Plastic bags in cart | Not allowed — ever |
| Service area | Single-family homes in unincorporated Miami-Dade County |
Important: 2025–2026 Schedule Change
Starting April 1, 2025, approximately 119,000 recycling customers in Miami-Dade received new assigned collection days.
The change affected residents north of SW 88th Street (North Kendall Drive). If you live in that area and have not confirmed your day since April 2025, your old schedule may no longer be accurate.
Residents south of SW 88th Street kept their original collection days.
Use the GIS lookup tool above to confirm your current day if you are unsure.
(Source: Miami-Dade County DSWM / Hoodline, March 2025)
2026 Miami-Dade Holiday Recycling Schedule
Miami-Dade County collects garbage and recycling as normal on most holidays. The exceptions for 2026 are listed below.
| Holiday | Date | Garbage | Recycling |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday, Jan 1 | Normal service | Normal service |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, Jan 19 | Suspended | Normal schedule |
| Independence Day (observed) | Friday, Jul 3 | No collection — Tue & Fri routes | Monitor DSWM for updates |
| Christmas Day | Friday, Dec 25 | No collection | No collection — Friday routes get alternate Saturday, Dec 26 pickup |
Important: If recycling pickup is suspended for a holiday, it does not resume the following day. Your next pickup falls on your regular two-week rotation. Plan to store your recyclables until the next scheduled collection.
For Independence Day (observed July 3): The 2026 printed calendar notes no garbage collection, but does not explicitly suspend recycling. Residents with Friday recycling should monitor the DSWM website or call 311 closer to the holiday, as July 4th weekend service can vary by year.
(Source: Miami-Dade DSWM 2026 Official Calendar — PDF)
Blue Cart Rules: What You Need to Know Before Pickup Day
Getting your recycling collected correctly in Miami-Dade comes down to a few firm rules.
Cart placement
- Place your blue recycling cart at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day
- Trucks run routes early — do not wait until mid-morning
- Keep the cart at least 5 feet away from mailboxes, parked cars, fire hydrants, and trees
- The cart opening should face the street
What goes in the blue cart Items must be loose in the cart — not bagged. Miami-Dade accepts:
- Cardboard (flattened, broken down)
- Paper, newspapers, magazines
- Plastic bottles and jugs (rinsed)
- Metal cans (steel and aluminum)
- Glass bottles and jars (rinsed)
What does NOT go in the blue cart
- Plastic bags — these jam sorting machinery and contaminate the recycling stream. This is the single most common reason for rejected carts in Miami-Dade.
- Styrofoam of any kind
- Food waste or greasy containers
- Electronics or batteries
- Clothing or textiles
- Loose shredded paper (bag it and take it to a drop-off)
Need to know if a specific item is recyclable in Miami-Dade? See our guide: Can You Recycle Cardboard? and Are Plastic Bags Accepted for Recycling?
2026 Miami-Dade Home Chemical Drop-Off Events
Miami-Dade County runs free mobile drop-off events throughout the year for residents to safely dispose of household chemicals — including oil-based paints, pesticides, motor oil, and cleaning products.
These are not regular recycling events. They are for hazardous household materials only.
Eligibility: Miami-Dade residents only. Bring a valid ID proving county residency. Commercial waste is not accepted.
Event hours: 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
| Date | Location | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 28 | West Perrine TRC | 16651 SW 107th Ave |
| Mar 21 | Sunset Kendall TRC | 8000 SW 107th Ave |
| Apr 11 | North Dade TRC | 21500 NW 47th Ave |
| May 2 | Moody Drive TRC | 12970 SW 268th St |
| May 30 | Eureka Drive TRC | 9401 SW 184th St |
| Jun 13 | West Little River TRC | 1830 NW 79th St |
| Jul 11 | Richmond Heights TRC | 14050 Boggs Dr |
| Aug 1 | Palm Springs North TRC | 7870 NW 178th St |
| Aug 22 | South Miami Heights TRC | 20800 SW 117th Ave |
| Sep 12 | Golden Glades TRC | 140 NW 160th St |
| Oct 3 | West Perrine TRC | 16651 SW 107th Ave |
| Nov 14 | Sunset Kendall TRC | 8000 SW 107th Ave |
TRC = Trash & Recycling Center
For year-round chemical disposal, visit your nearest permanent Miami-Dade Trash & Recycling Center. Locations and hours are listed at miamidade.gov/solidwaste.
Miami-Dade Recycling FAQs
Q: What day is recycling pickup in Miami-Dade County?
There is no single recycling day for all of Miami-Dade. Your assigned day (Monday through Friday) depends on your address. Use the county’s GIS lookup tool at gisweb.miamidade.gov/communityservices to find your exact day, or call 311.
Q: How often does recycling get picked up in Miami-Dade in 2026?
Recycling pickup runs every two weeks (bi-weekly) for single-family homes. You are assigned to either an “A week” or “B week” rotation. Your 2026 calendar will show which weeks your cart is collected each month.
Q: Does recycling run on holidays in Miami-Dade?
Most holidays have normal service. The main exceptions in 2026 are: MLK Day (garbage suspended, recycling normal), Independence Day observed July 3 (garbage suspended for some routes — monitor DSWM), and Christmas Day December 25 (both garbage and recycling suspended; Friday routes get a Saturday, December 26 alternate pickup).
Q: What happens if Miami-Dade misses my recycling pickup?
If your pickup is missed due to a holiday, it is not made up the next day. Your next service date is your regular two-week rotation. If your pickup is missed for another reason (such as the cart not being found), call 311 to report a missed collection.
Q: Can I put plastic bags in my Miami-Dade recycling cart?
No. Plastic bags are explicitly prohibited in Miami-Dade’s blue recycling carts. They tangle sorting equipment at the facility and contaminate other recyclables. Return plastic bags to store drop-off bins at major grocery retailers instead.
Q: I moved into Miami-Dade recently — how do I set up recycling service?
Contact the Miami-Dade Department of Solid Waste Management at 305-514-6666 or visit miamidade.gov/solidwaste. Use the GIS address tool to confirm your assigned collection day and A/B week before your first pickup. New residents are typically assigned a blue cart — if one was not left at your home, contact the department to request one.
Official Sources
- Miami-Dade Department of Solid Waste Management: miamidade.gov/solidwaste
- 2026 Recycling Calendars (PDF): miamidade.gov — All Routes
- Address Lookup Tool: gisweb.miamidade.gov/communityservices
- County Service Line: 311 or 305-514-6666
Last verified: June 2026. Schedules are subject to change. Always confirm with Miami-Dade DSWM for the most current information.
Check Your Schedule Before Next Pickup
Recycling schedules in Miami-Dade are address-specific and change from year to year — especially after the April 2025 route realignment that shifted nearly 120,000 households to new collection days.
The fastest thing you can do right now: enter your address at gisweb.miamidade.gov/communityservices and confirm your current day and A/B week. It takes about 30 seconds and ensures you never miss a pickup.
For holiday updates closer to each date, bookmark the Miami-Dade DSWM website or follow the county’s official social media channels where service changes are announced 48–72 hours in advance.