Check Out Unincorporated Manatee County's Recycling Process

♻️Recycle Together, Recycle Right!!

Manatee County uses single-stream recycling, which means all clean recyclable paper, glass, and plastics go together in your recycling cart — no need to sort! Once collected, materials are separated for reuse at a local materials recovery facility.

🗓 Recycling Pickup Schedule

• Curbside collection occurs once a week. Use the Resident Information Tool to check your service day.
• Each residence receives one (1) 64-gallon recycling cart for:
  • Paper and cardboard
  • Metal cans
  • Glass
  • Plastic containers

🚛 How to Place Your Recycling Cart

• Place your cart 3 feet from the curb and any obstacles (vehicles, mailboxes, garbage bins, etc.).
• Position the arrow facing the street (handle away from the road).
• Cart must be at the curb by 6:00 a.m.
• If not collected by 6:00 p.m., report a missed pickup via:
  • Customer Self-Service Portal
  • Manatee 311

✅ Recycling Best Practices

• Only place accepted recyclables in the cart. If unsure, use the Waste Wizard tool.
• Accepted materials:
  • Paper
  • Unbroken glass
  • Plastics (milk jugs, water bottles, 2L bottles)
  • Clean, dry, flattened cardboard
  • Aluminum cans and other metals
• Do not:
  • Bag recyclables or use plastic bags — they cause contamination.
  • Include wet or dirty cardboard (like pizza boxes).
  • Put plastic wrap or plastic bags in the recycling cart.
• Avoid overpacking the cart — tightly packed materials may not empty properly.

🗃 How to Request a Recycling Cart

If you’re a new homeowner or your cart is damaged:

1. Log in to the Customer Self-Service Portal and submit a cart request.
2. Your new or repaired 64-gallon cart will arrive within three weeks.
3. Leave your damaged cart empty and curbside on your regular recycling day until replaced.

📦 How to Recycle Cardboard

1. Break down all boxes.
2. Place them loosely inside the cart.
3. Boxes must not extend more than six inches above the top of the cart.
   

🗺 Where to Drop Off Recycling

For residents without curbside service (e.g., condos, RV parks) or large recyclables, use one of the drop-off recycling sites:

• Premier Sports Complex, 5895 Premier Sports Blvd. in Lakewood Ranch
• Myakka City Community Center, 10070 Wauchula Rd. in Myakka City
• Manatee County Utilities, 4750 66th St. W. in Bradenton
• Parrish Community Park, 7550 Fort Hamer Rd. in Parrish
• Braden River Park, 5201 51st. Street East in Bradenton
• Buffalo Creek Park 7550 69th St. E. in Palmetto
• Bennett Park, 400 Cyprus Creek Blvd. in Bradenton
• Landfill, 3333 Lena Road in Bradenton

🚫 No plastic bags accepted — all recyclables must go directly into recycling containers.