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Garbage Tote Information

Tote Allocation / Maintenance

The City of Cape Coral provides each resident with two totes: one tote to dispose of trash and one tote to dispose of recyclables. Waste Pro will not replace cans due to smell or unsanitary conditions. The property owner or tenant is responsible for keeping their totes clean and sanitary.

To help keep your tote and other containers clean and free of odor, insects, and rodents, please dispose of your garbage in plastic bags. This will also help prevent possible spillage or wind-blown debris when collected. Please do not place plastic bags in your recycle tote or bag recyclable items.

Here are some ordinary household ingredients you can use to deodorize your containers to keep them fresh:

  • Baking soda: Baking soda can work wonders at preventing odors in your trash cans. Sprinkle it in the bottom of a trash can or directly into it to help absorb stinky odors. Baking soda is also great for scrubbing your trash can to remove odors that may have seeped into it.
  • Dryer sheets: Even used dryer sheets will help absorb odors in your containers.
  • Vanilla extract: Place a small amount of vanilla extract on a couple of cotton balls and let them stay overnight in the trash can.
  • Cat litter: Cat litter in the bottom of your containers keeps odors away. The cat litter absorbs odors and liquids, leaving a fresh scent.


Tote Storage

To help maintain the great appearance of our community, please remember:

  • Garbage cans must NOT be left in view from the street including the front of the garage or carport.
  • You may place your cans at the curb no earlier than 5:00 PM the day before your scheduled pickup.
  • Please return and store your cans properly at the end of the same day as pickup.

When not at the curb, your refuse containers should be stored in one of the following places:

  1. Behind your home in the rear yard.
  2. Inside your garage or carport.
  3. In the side yard, within 3 feet of the exterior wall and not extending beyond the wall’s edge at the front of the home.

tote storage  
Proper Tote Storage		 tote storage
Improper Tote Storage


These guidelines are found at Cape Coral City Ordinance 9-67(b)9, designed to keep our streets neat and welcoming.

Please note: Continued violations may lead to a formal code enforcement hearing before the City’s Special Magistrate.