Orlando trash & bulky-item rules

City of Orlando residential customers can place two qualifying large items out for free on their normal yard-waste collection day. No advance appointment is needed for those two ordinary items.

Examples include sofas, chairs, dressers, TV consoles, refrigerators, dishwashers, washers, dryers, toilets, sinks and similar household items that the crew can safely load. Refrigerators and freezers must have their doors removed before set-out.

If a large item is too heavy or oversized for the normal crew, the City may return with a claw truck and will contact the resident about the cost before collection. Larger cleanouts can also use the City's paid dumpster-bag or roll-off services.

The current dumpster-bag pickup fee is $100 per bag. The bag is placed between the curb and sidewalk and cannot contain food waste, yard waste, hazardous materials, chemicals, paint or material above the bag's rated weight.

Orlando offers 20-yard and 30-yard roll-off dumpsters. The City describes the 20-yard size as useful for yard waste, roofing shingles, furniture and light-to-moderate remodeling. The 30-yard size is intended for larger renovations, commercial cleanups and demolition work.

Weight is charged by the ton and hazardous waste is prohibited. This is the more appropriate City route for substantial renovation debris than trying to turn a full project into the normal two-item curbside allowance.

Orlando's current yard-waste program uses the easy-to-remember Think 4 rules: up to 4 cubic yards per week; branches no more than 4 inches in diameter and 4 feet long; tied bundles up to 40 pounds; and bagged yard waste up to 40 pounds.

Dirt, rock, gravel, landscape ties, fencing and pressure-treated landscape wood are not yard waste. Material generated by a hired landscaper or tree contractor must be handled by the contractor.

The City does not collect household hazardous waste at the curb. Orlando directs residents to Orange County's residential HHW system, including the County landfill and Porter Road Transfer Station for qualifying material. Electronics also have County and periodic Keep Orlando Beautiful recycling routes.

Most importantly, an address can say “Orlando, FL” while sitting outside the City. Some Orlando mailing addresses are in unincorporated Orange County and receive County service instead. Check the City address tool before relying on the two-item free-pickup rule.

For Orlando, start with the local authority links below. Recheck them before a special trip or unusual set-out because programs, prices and facility hours can change.

• Large Item PickupTwo free large items, accepted categories, refrigerator-door rule and claw-truck handling.
• Dumpster Bag PickupCurrent $100 fee, placement and prohibited materials.
• Roll-Off Dumpster20/30-yard container uses and hazardous-waste restriction.
• Yard WasteCurrent Think 4 size, volume and weight rules.
• Solid WasteCity service contacts and disposal program links.