City of Miami - Department of Solid Waste

Things To Know

FAQs

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Welcome to the Solid Waste Department

Things to Know

Residential Service Application (Please print the application; fill it out and fax it to:305-960-2815. Any question please call 305-960-2824)

Helpful Telephone Numbers
Chemical Disposal
Garbage - Trash – Bulky Trash
Item Pickup
Hurricane Preparedness
Special Events
Holiday Schedule
Mulch & Compost

Telephone Numbers

Garbage, Trash, Recycling	311
Removal of Dead Animals	311
Handicap Collection	311
Illegal Dumping/ Tires	311
New Service Requests	(305) 960-2830
Rat Problems (Health Dept)	(305) 633-1591
Sewage Overflow (Miami-Dade)	(305) 547-7007
Miami- Dade Solid Waste	(305) 594-1500
Hazardous Material Waste	(305) 623-3500
Batteries Disposal	311
Oil Disposal	(305) 375-3376
Animal Control	311
Dispose Chemicals	(305) 594-1500
Back To Top Chemical Disposal: Home Chemicals Did you know that many of the products that we use in our homes (like oil based paint, solvents, pesticides, and pool chemicals) are actually as hazardous as industrial chemicals? The bad news is that when these products are disposed of improperly, they can pollute our drinking water. Help protect Miami-Dade's fragile environment by safely disposing of your household chemicals. Permanent Home Chemical Collection Centers Miami-Dade County Home Chemical Collection Center accepts oil based paints, pesticides, solvents, pool chemicals and other household items. The centers also accept latex paints that are still in liquid form; however, it is recommended that new paints or latex paint that is still in good condition be donated to neighbors or community groups. The centers are available to non-commercial residents only. The Centers are located in West Dade at 8831 N.W. 58th Street, and in South Dade at 23707 SW 97th Avenue Gate-B. Normal hours of operation are Wednesday through Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Commercial waste of any kind, as well as explosives, ammunition, radioactive, infectious and/or biohazardous waste are NOT accepted. When delivering household chemicals to the Center, please remember: Pack all containers upright in sturdy boxes. Tighten lids and caps on all containers Place leaking containers in larger container, along with an absorbent material such as newspaper Make sure all containers are labeled. If the original label has fallen off, re-label it with the contents or any information you have, or label it "UNKNOWN CHEMICALS" Back To Top
What is the difference between GARBAGE – TRASH – BULKY TRASH Garbage The refuse accumulation of animal, fruit, or vegetable matter that attends the preparation, use, cooking and dealing in, or storage of edibles and any other matter which is subject to decay, putrefaction and the generation of noxious or offensive gases or odors which during or after decay, may serve as breeding or feeding material for flies or other germs carrying insects or rodents. Trash The word “trash” shall mean garden, tree and shrubbery trash that is too large to be bagged, bundled or containers, and other accumulations of a nature other than garbage and bulky waste as defined herein which cannot be bagged, bundled or containerized for weekly collection. Bulky Waste The words “bulky trash” shall mean, but not limited to, large items of household refuse such as appliances, furniture, accumulations from major tree cutbacks (exceeding ten inches (10’) in diameter and four feet (4’) in length and weighing more than (50) pounds. Large items to be disposed. Back To Top
Bulk Trash Pick UP (once a week) Types of Trash: Grass & leaves (bagged), tree and hedge trimmings, household furniture, appliances and bulky items. TRASH DOES NOT INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, ROOFING MATERIALS, CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS, WOOD, SAND, ROCKS, DIRT, CARPETS, PAINT, OIL, AND/OR ALL CHEMICAL AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. Pick up: Trash must be placed in front of your own property on the right of way no more than 24 hours before the scheduled pick up day. Kitchen Garbage Pick UP (twice a week) Types of Garbage: Household refuse, small bulky items and small trimmings may be placed inside the green garbage containers with lid properly closed. Pick up: Garbage will be collected in front of your own property twice a week on your scheduled collection date, and will be picked up at curbside only when containerized in green garbage containers. Green garbage containers are to be removed from the curb within 24 hrs. of pick up. Recycle Pick UP (once a week) Types of Items: Plastic containers, tin and aluminum cans, clear, green and brown glass bottles or jars, newspapers only, milk and juice cartons Pick up: Recycle goods will be collected in blue recycle bins placed in front of your own property once a week on your scheduled collection date.

Special Events: Special Event Calle Ocho Festival

The Department provides cleanup and waste removal services to approximately 150 festivals annually. Many of these events have national and international prestige. Large scale Special Events are scheduled with the City of Miami Office of Special Events, they process the initial application.

For more information on planning your event please contact the Office of Special Events/FACE, 1501 NW 3rd Street, Gate 7, Miami, Fl or by phone (305)642-1271.

Some examples of Special events we cover include:

Calle Ocho, King Orange Jamboree Parade, Coconut Grove Arts Festival, Bahamas Goombay Festival, Miami International Book Fair, Martin Luther King Parade, Three Kings Parade

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Hurricane Preparedness:

With hurricanes being as powerful as they are, it is not surprising that upon landfall they cause damage and destruction. Even when the hurricane has yet to make landfall, its effects can be dangerous. However, most of the damage caused to man and nature occur as a hurricane makes landfall.

If your home is on or near the coastline where the hurricane's destructive forces will affect it, pay close attention to what the local government and/or police force is recommending. You should also pay attention to radio and TV stations for the latest information.

If evacuating your home is recommended:

• Heed their warning!!
• Plan ahead where you would go -- it may be beneficial to choose a few places like an out of town friend's home or a designated shelter, etc.
• Take the phone numbers of these places with you.
• Take a road map in case the weather forces you onto unfamiliar roads.
• Do not drive over standing water, as floods may have damaged the roads.

YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW DEEP THE WATER REALLY IS!!!

If you are in the path of a land-falling hurricane, you should prepare a supply kit containing:

• A first aid kit and necessary medications.
• Canned food and an opener, as this food last for long periods of time without needing refrigeration.
• Plenty of water. (The Red Cross recommends three gallons of water per person to last three days.)
• Flashlights, a battery powered radio, and extra batteries.
• Raingear, sleeping bags, and protective clothing.

More complete information on this subject as well as how to best prepare your house for a hurricane can be gathered by contacting your local Red Cross chapter.

All major cutting of vegetation (i.e. tree removal) should be completed long before June 1st, the beginning of hurricane season, if not then please do it immediately and not wait until a storm hits Dade County. Do all major cutting/tree removal from December 1st through April 30th. Solid Waste arranges for removal of debris from routine yard maintenance though out the year with your weekly scheduled pick up.

If you are having trees removed or doing any other major cutting, be sure to have your contractor include the price of debris removal as part of their service. Debris from major cutting or tree removal can be taken to the mini dump located at 1290 NW 20th Street.

• Arrange to cut back all trees and weak branches that could contact building
• Have your foliage thinned to wind can flow freely through branches, decreasing the chance that trees/plants will be uprooted.
• Place vegetation material from routine maintenance at the curb on your regular scheduled collection day.
• Containerize small pieces of vegetations such as pine needles, leaves, twigs etc. in bags and placed at the curb on your collection day.
• Clean your yard of any items that could pose a danger to you or your neighbors in hurricane force winds such as old lumber, broken lawn furniture, old wooden fence, etc. and take it to the mini dump located at 1290 NW 20th Street.

Hurricane Do's & Don'ts for the Department of Solid Waste
(Hurricane Season June 1 - November 30)

DO - Begin trimming branches from your trees and placing them out for pick up during regular trash pickup days during the months of March through May.
DON'T - Trim branches once a hurricane alert had been issued. Branches become dangerous projectiles during a storm and the department might not be able to pick up your area.
DO - Clean and place your garbage container in a protected area when ever possible. Garbage containers can become dangerous projectiles.

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Holiday Schedule

The Department of Solid Waste will observe two holidays throughout the year by adjusting the residential and three units collection schedules for garbage, bulky trash and recycling. The two holidays that are observed by the department are Christmas Day and Martin Luther King Day.

Garbage, Bulky Trash, and recycling collection schedules will be adjusted according to the day of the week the authorized holiday is observed.

Announcements of holiday collection schedules are made in radio public announcements, and city cable television.

Solid Waste customers may also call the department at 311 for specific holiday pick-up schedule.

No collection service is provided on holidays. The collection day that falls on a holiday will be collected on the following week, as well as the collection for the remainder of the week, will continue to run on the same day.

Please Note: New City of Miami residents, please contact the City of Miami Solid Waste Department regarding your holiday collection schedule at 311.

The City of Miami only observes two official holidays:

Christmas Day,
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,

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Mulch and Compost

Mulch and Compost

If you're looking for a way to save lots of time in the garden, look no further. Mulching your flower and vegetable beds will drastically reduce the amount of time spent weeding, watering and fighting pests. Mulch also improves the appearance of your garden, and keeps dirt from splashing up on your flowers and vegetables when it rains. The best time to mulch is after the soil has warmed up and you are ready to start planting.

• Mulch will help prevent weeds from taking over your garden. This means you can spend more time enjoying your garden and less time pulling up unwanted plants.

How much mulch would I need ?

Mulch is usually sold by the cubic yard, and that can leave gardeners scratching their head when trying to figure out how much to buy. Here’s the easiest way:

1. First, find out the size of the area you want to cover in square feet. This is easy; just multiply the length of your garden by the width.

2. Next, decide how deep you want your mulch to be, in inches. A couple of inches is usually sufficient.

3. Now multiply the size of your garden in square feet (#1) by the depth of your mulch in inches (#2).

4. Divide the number you get in #3 by 324. This is the number of cubic yards of mulch you will need to cover your garden.

What is Composting?
It is a form of recycling that returns nutrients to the soil through the decomposition of organic material. Good compost is a dark, crumbly, earth like material.

8 Easy Steps to making Compost

1. Pick at least 4-ft. area (shaded) where water does not collect when it rains.
2. Cover half the area with a 6 in. layer of leaves. Water thoroughly.
3. Add a 2 in. layer of grass clippings and/or fruit and vegetable scarps and add a dash or soil.
4. Mix this layer lightly into the layer below it with a hoe or cultivator. Water thoroughly.
5. Top with a 2 inch layer of leaves.
6. Repeat steps 3-5 as ingredients are available. Note: The top layer of completed pile should be at least 4 in. of leaves covering all food materials. Turn the whole pile over with a hay-fork or shovel every 2-3 weeks.
7. Adding water as needed to make the whole pike moist like a wrung-out sponge.
8. Compost is well done when most of the original ingredients have broken down and when it smells like rich soil.

The City of Miami offers its residents free mulch and compost at our Virginia Key location 3851 Rickenbacker Causeway. Its free of charge to City of Miami residents and can be picked up Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

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