Recycling And Waste Reduction
The Recycling Divisionis responsible for implementing, monitoring and administering the Department’s comprehensive recycling program. This includes curbside and multi-family recycling, office paper and commercial recycling programs.
NEW! “The City of Tampa is proud to partner with Habitat Hillsborough to encourage the community to reuse, recycle and repurpose by donating to or shopping at our ReStore.”
The Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County Florida, Inc. ReStore offers a wide variety of new and used building materials, appliances, cabinets, furniture, flooring, specialty items and much more at discount prices. All proceeds from our ReStore go directly to fund the mission of Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County.
Curbside Program Expansion
The City of Tampa’s Department of Solid Waste & Environmental Program Management is excited to announce the addition of plastics # 3-7 to the recycling program. Now you can recycle ALL of your plastic containers curbside!
| Containers & Non-Fiber | Fibers |
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*Cardboard: Please make sure that cardboard is flattened and cut down to fit in blue bins (a maximum of 3 ft squares). If you have large quantities of cardboard, it may be dropped off, at no charge, at the McKay Bay Refuse-To-Energy Facility at 114 S. 34th Street, Tampa FL.
Recycle your old blue bins: Leave your cracked, broken blue bins curbside on your pick up day for collection (please leave a note on the bin stating that you would like it replaced). The old bins will be taken to the processing facility and recycled.
Recycling Drop Off Sites:
McKay Bay Refuse-To-Energy Facility at 114 S. 34th St. for recycling.
University of South Florida Recycling Center:
Located on the Corner of Elm and Sycamore behind the SunDome.
Cardboard, newspaper, aluminum, plastic and glass recycling.
In-School and Public Education Program
Recycling Fun Facts
- We throw away enough aluminum each year that we could rebuild our entire commercial air fleet every 3 months.
- We throw away enough office paper each year to build a 12 foot high wall of paper from New York to Los Angeles.
- We throw away enough plastic soda bottles each year to circle the earth four times.
- We throw away enough motor oil each year to fill 120 supertankers.
- We throw away 20 million tons of grass clippings, dead leaves and branches a year.
- An average size family’s yard waste can make about 300-400 pounds of finished compost (humus) a year!
Contacts:
Program Information:
Recycling Coordinator – Lori VanBemden
(813) 348-6504
Fax: (813) 348-1156
Missed Pickups/Green Recycling Cart Requests:
Customer Service
(813) 274-8811
Extension 2
“Be Smart, Use Your Cart” Automated Residential Recycling
| The citywide response from residents to the Be Smart, Use Your Cart automated residential recycling program has been overwhelmingly positive. Recycling participation in areas that have received their green 96-gallon recycling carts has more than doubled. This means that Tampa residents are recycling more than ever!Because demand for recycling carts has been much higher than anticipated, cart distribution will be slightly delayed for some residents. All affected residents will be notified via mail and will receive a recycling cart once the next order of carts arrives.
Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please contact the City of Tampa Utilities Consolidated Call Center at (813) 274-8811, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
City of Tampa Introduces Automated Carted Recycling
In February 2013, the Department of Solid Waste & Environmental Program Management launched a new way to recycle. Be Smart, Use Your Cart is an exciting, new automated recycling program for City of Tampa residents. Over an 18-month period, the 14-gallon blue bins currently used to store recyclables at the curb will be replaced with a 96-gallon green recycling cart, complete with technology that will make them easier to track.
A 96-gallon recycling cart holds more recyclables, reduces litter, and easily rolls to the curb and back. Automated carted recycling offers a more efficient and effective collection process for the City, and is safer for refuse drivers. Automated recycling also helps to promote a more sustainable community.
In 2011, the Department of Solid Waste & Environmental Program Management conducted an extensive study to evaluate household recycling participation rates across Tampa in the blue bin curbside recycling program. The Be Smart, Use Your Cart automated recycling program is being implemented based on the recycling participation rates observed throughout the City, with the highest participation routes within each service day receiving automated carting recycling first.
Please see the maps below to determine if your residence is currently eligible to receive a new recycling cart as part of the “Be Smart, Use Your Cart” automated recycling program.
