Please do not lean garbage bags or any other items against or place them on top of the bin. All waste must be inside the bin with the lid fully closed.

Bins that are overfilled or obstructed will not be collected.

No, your blue 64-gallon Manatee County recycling bin is only for recyclables. You may use your old garbage can (not the new 96-gallon Big Bin) for yard waste, however! For more information about recycling, please click here.

 

Place carts 3 feet from the curb and keep them at least 3 feet from cars, mailboxes, meters/backflow assemblies, yard waste, and any other obstruction.

They are 25 x 34 x 46

The big bins are 4 inches taller and 1 inch wider than our current bins and weigh 33 pounds.

Manatee County uses single-stream recycling. All clean recyclable paper, glass, and plastics are put together in the recycling cart. 

Arrange materials loosely in the recycling cart. Materials packed too tightly may remain in the recycling cart after it is dumped.

View the PDF Recycling Do's & Don'ts by clicking here, or visit Recycle Together, Recycle Right! for additional information about recycling in Manatee County. 

We're here to help! If you have any questions or concerns about the new changes to your solid waste collection services, please visit the Big Bin Advantage page by clicking here. There, you'll find frequently asked questions and get connected to helpful information and resources.  

Report missed service by completing the Missed Collection Reporting Form, located at the top of this webpage, or by clicking here. 

If your bin is damaged, you can get it repaired or replaced by submitting a service request on your Customer Self Service portal. 

CSS Portal ➝ Request ➝ Solid Waste ➝ Maintenance Request for County Provided Garbage Bin

If you are unable to move your garbage and recycling bins to the curb due to a medical condition, you may qualify for Rear Door Assistance. To apply, you must complete the form and submit it along with a note from your doctor. Once your information has been received, a team member will reach out to you to help set up the service. For more details, or to submit your form online, or download the PDF form about this program, please visit: Manatee County’s Medical Waiver (Rear Door Assistance) Program: Making Waste Disposal Accessible for All.

Each Big Bin is electronically chipped and assigned to your address. If your bin goes missing, we can track and confirm whether it’s at the wrong property. In most cases, bins are simply found nearby and returned.

To help prevent theft or mix-ups:

• Mark your bin with your house number (without covering the county-issued number on the front).
• Bring it back from the curb promptly after collection.
• Keep an eye out for your neighbors, especially those who may need extra help.

If you suspect your bin is missing, call 311. Our team will investigate and make sure you’re not left without service.

Important: Removing or keeping a bin that does not belong to you is considered theft under Florida law.

• According to Florida Statute § 812.014, theft of property valued at $100 or more is classified as petit theft of the first degree, a first-degree misdemeanor, and is an arrestable offense.
• Repeat offenses may be charged as a felony.

Simply put: taking a bin that isn’t yours can lead to arrest and prosecution.

You can email [email protected], call 941-792-8811, or dial 311.

Beginning December 1, 2025, you may request a 64-gallon garbage bin by submitting a service request on your Customer Self Service portal at mymanatee.org/css. Deliveries of smaller bins will start the week of January 5, 2026. 

No, plastic bags are longer accepted. Yard waste must be in bins, tied bundles of 4 feet or less in length (with any branches be 6 (inches) or less in diameter), or compostable paper lawn and leaf bags. The weight limit is 40 lbs per item at unlimited 40-pound increments. Yard waste cannot be collected if it is not properly disposed of. Do not place yard waste in garbage or recycling bins. You may repurpose your old garbage can for your yard waste. 

These are considered bulk items and are collected by request for a fee. To schedule a pickup, request a Residential Bulk pickup in your Customer Self Service portal.

Yard waste is limited to 40 pounds per item at unlimited 40 pound increments. If you have a branch that is 50 pounds and you cut into (5) 10 pound pieces, they'll pick it all up. This is an employee limitation to keep them safe. Length can be no longer than 4 feet.

Bulk items are collected per item or cubic yard for an additional fee. You can request a pickup in advance for a fee in your Customer Self Service portal. Additionally, you can also request a second bin for an additional monthly service fee of $13.32 per additional bin on your CSS portal.

You can request an additional 96-gallon bin on your CSS account at mymanatee.org/css for an additional monthly service fee of $13.32 per additional bin. To order an additional bin on your account, log in, and go to "Service Request."

You may keep your old bin for yard waste or other uses. If you’d prefer it be taken away, simply place a note on it that says “Please remove” within the first 30 days of receiving your new bin, and it will be collected for you. Please know - they are not recyclable and will go to the landfill to be disposed of.

You may print and tape the below document (or make your own) to your old can if you want it taken to the landfill for you. 

Big Bin - Remove Old Can

While we cannot provide a specific timeframe for when all of the additional requested bins will be delivered, the franchised haulers are working diligently to get them delivered to your address as quickly as possible. In the meantime, you can use your old garbage can for any additional bagged trash as needed until you receive your new, additional bin(s). 

Old personal garbage containers will no longer be collected as of October 6, 2025.