Home Departments Public Works General Support/Services Division Solid Waste, Recyclables, Horticulture and Bulk Trash Removal Residential Collection

Residential Collection

All residential curbside services will begin at 5 a.m. Monday through Friday from May 1 to September 30 and 6 a.m. from October 1 to April 30. Please ensure all items for collection are placed curbside by these times on your scheduled collection day to avoid missing any of the collection vehicles. Trash totes may be placed curbside anytime after 5 p.m. the day before your scheduled collection day.

Waste Pro provides residential collection and disposal service for all household trash and recycling generated from residential customers, which has been properly prepared and contained in the correct refuse container provided under the Automated Cart Program.

Extra garbage that does not fit in the brown garbage can be placed out for collection in plastic bags set next to the can. Each bag cannot weigh more than fifty (50) pounds and be stacked neatly at the curb.

Keep a three (3) foot clearance between and around each can for collection so that the wheels and handle face the house. Please keep at least a five (5) foot clearance from mailboxes, trees, parked cars, etc.

If Waste Pro does not pick up by 6:00 p.m. on your normal (or post-holiday) collection day, residents may report a "Missed Solid Waste Pick-up" through the City's 311 App or Call Center. Be aware that there may be different trucks for different kinds of waste in your area. If only part of your trash has been picked up, please still wait until after 6:00 p.m. to report a missed pickup, as the other trucks may still be making their way to you.

Rear yard/Backdoor Service

This exception includes customers where all residents in a dwelling are identified as physically handicapped or disabled (a customer disabled through age will not qualify). These customers shall be provided backdoor service for the collection of solid wastes and recyclables.

New requests for disability exemptions received by the Contractor shall be supported by a Medical Letter from a medical professional from the customer routed to the Contractor for a visit to confirm the resident lives alone. If approved for this service, the Contractor will start service on the next regularly scheduled collection day. Waste Pro requires this medical exemption to be renewed annually to maintain service. If the Contractor has reason to believe the service is no longer required, the Contractor will investigate to determine whether the service needs to be continued. Please call Waste Pro at 239-337-0800 to request this special service if you, and all other occupants of the residence are disabled.

Right of Entry (ROE) for Private or Gated Communities

In the event of a hurricane or other declared major disaster in the City of Cape Coral, FEMA regulations require private or gated communities to have a current Right of Entry (ROE) on file with the City before any disaster debris recovery crews can enter the community.

Intended for community-owned/common areas, only ONE form is required per community to be completed by each association's authorized agent/representative. Completing the form is quick and easy and must only be done once a year. All professional property managers and residential HOA presidents are encouraged to complete the form early in the year before a major disaster is declared.

Click here to access the City of Cape Coral Right of Entry (ROE) Form

Note: This form is for communities or properties located in Cape Coral, Florida (only).

For questions or assistance completing the ROE form, please contact cceoc@capecoral.gov.

Residential Recycling Collection

Residential curbside collection is provided one (1) time per week. Your collection day is based on your location and is the same day as your trash day.

Find your trash day

Extra recycling that does not fit in the green recycle tote may be placed out for collection in an empty cardboard box with the words “EXTRA RECYCLE” written large and clear enough for the driver to see set next to the can. Each box should be placed neatly at the curb and cannot weigh over fifty (50) pounds.

Residential Horticulture Collection

Waste Pro provides Residential Yard Waste (horticulture) collection and disposal service for all TRIMMINGS (branches and limbs from trees and shrubs), grass clippings, fallen fruit, leaves, weeds, and palm fronds generated from residential customers that have been properly contained (bagged or containerized less than 50 lbs.) and placed curbside or street line edge of the street within the confines of residents' or owners' side property lines for collection.

Waste placed at vacant lots will not be collected. Branches and limbs from trees and shrubs are to be cut in lengths no more than six (6) feet long, tied up in bundles weighing no more than fifty (50) pounds and no more than 4 inches in diameter, and placed neatly at the curb.

Palm fronds need not be cut down in size, bundled, or tied. Just make one (1) single neat pile with all the palm fronds facing the same direction with nothing but palm fronds in a single pile separated from the rest of your yard waste that has been bundled and tied up.

Small clippings, weeds, grass clippings, etc. may be put in your own personal garbage can that is no more than forty (40) gallons in size, has a weatherproof lid and handles on both sides of the brown paper biodegradable leaf bags you can purchase from local stores.

Each can or bag of yard waste set out for collection can weigh no more than fifty (50) pounds. There is a charge for the collection and disposal of land-clearing debris.

Examples of how to properly prepare garbage, recycling, and yard waste for curbside collection

Compliant Solid Waste & Recycling - Bins are properly placed near the road. There is no garbage or recyclables overflowing from either bin.	Compliant Horticulture Waste - Piles are tied together and neatly placed near the road.
Compliant Horticulture Waste - Fronds are placed in a bin and placed at the end of the driveway.	Compliant Horticulture Waste - Horticulture is in paper bags and placed at the end of the driveway.

Examples of non-compliant garbage, recycling, & yard waste preparation (what NOT to do)

What's wrong? Horticulture is not bundled, tires should be neatly stacked, and the loose trash should be placed in a garbage bin.	What's wrong? Loose horticulture should be in a container or paper bag and palm fronds should be neatly stacked with cut ends all facing in the same direction. The plastic bucket should be placed in a trash bin.
What's wrong? Loose horticulture should be in a container or paper bag and palm fronds should be neatly stacked with cut ends all facing in the same direction.	What's wrong? Palm fronds should be neatly stacked with cut ends facing the same direction.
What's wrong? There are items in the bin that are not recyclable: (mop, horticulture, paint roller, wood, roof shingles)