Fort Myers picks up trash and recycling once a week, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday by area; never Wednesday. Carts out by 6:30 a.m. 239-321-8050.
Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. Sources: the City of Fort Myers Solid Waste Division, its schedules and routes page, holiday week delays and Solid Waste FAQs.
The City of Fort Myers collects its own trash. Garbage, recycling and yard waste are picked up once a week, and service is mandatory: under city code, any home or business with an active city water or sewer account must have solid waste service. Carts must be at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on your day; the city asks for them the night before.
Who to call
- Solid Waste Division (missed pickup, carts, bulk, electronics): 239-321-8050
- Office: 2144 Arcadia St., Fort Myers, FL 33916
- City Hall main line: 239-321-7000
- Official pages: pickup day map and schedules and routes
Your trash and recycling day
Recycling is collected on the same day as garbage, and everything recyclable goes in one cart. There is no residential collection on Wednesday. The city’s areas:
| Day | Where you live |
|---|---|
| Monday | East of Evans Avenue, north of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (SR 82) to the Caloosahatchee River |
| Tuesday | East of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and south of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard |
| Thursday | East of Cleveland Avenue (US 41) to Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and south to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, plus downtown from Cleveland Avenue to Evans Avenue |
| Friday | West of Cleveland Avenue to the Caloosahatchee River |
The quickest way to check an address is the city’s pickup day map, which shows garbage, recycling, yard waste (“horticulture”) and bulk days.
What you get
The city’s FAQ lists the standard residential service:
- A 96-gallon trash cart, emptied once a week.
- A recycling cart, emptied once a week. A second recycling cart is free; call 239-321-8050.
- Bulk pickup once a week, up to 4 cubic yards of large household items such as furniture and mattresses.
- Yard waste pickup once a week, up to 10 cubic yards.
- Appliance removal once a week (stoves, refrigerators, washers and dryers). Keep junk and brush in separate piles.
More trash than fits? The city charges $7.34 a month for a second trash cart, or $13.25 for a one-time extra pickup. A 96-gallon cart for yard clippings is $2.75 a month.
Yard waste and bulk day
Yard waste and bulk items run on their own schedule, which may not be your trash day:
| Day | Where you live |
|---|---|
| Monday | West of McGregor Boulevard to the Fort Myers Golf Course; west of Cleveland Avenue (US 41) and south of the golf course |
| Tuesday | East of McGregor Boulevard, north of the golf course, west of Evans Avenue, south of Edison Avenue and west of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard |
| Thursday | East of Evans Avenue on Edison Avenue, west of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard to Michigan Link, south of Michigan Link to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and west of Ortiz Avenue |
| Friday | East of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard along Michigan Link, north of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Ortiz Avenue, and east of Ortiz Avenue |
The city’s yard waste rules:
- Pile branches and palm fronds no more than 4 feet from the edge of the pavement.
- Cut pieces to 4 feet long or less and 4 inches across or less. Palm fronds are exempt.
- Leaves, grass clippings and pine needles go in recyclable paper bags.
- No landscaping wood or stone, and nothing out more than 24 hours before pickup.
- If a pile is left, look for a door tag. No tag? Call 239-321-8050.
What goes in the recycling cart
From the city’s recycling page:
- Yes: glass bottles and jars; aluminum cans, foil and pie pans; empty aerosol cans and food cans; plastic containers marked No. 1 to No. 7, milk jugs and detergent bottles; cardboard, paper bags, newspaper, junk mail and cereal boxes.
- No: plastic grocery bags, Styrofoam, egg cartons, pool chemical and motor oil bottles, drinking glasses, dishes, mirrors, juice boxes, pots and pans.
- Electronics (TVs, computers, microwaves) are not cart items. Call 239-321-8050 to schedule a special pickup.
Holidays
The city does not collect on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas. When a holiday falls on a weekday, collections after it move one day later for the rest of the week. The 2026 dates still to come:
- Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 26: Thursday pickups move to Friday and Friday pickups to Saturday. Monday and Tuesday are not affected.
- Christmas, Friday, Dec. 25: Friday pickups move to Saturday, Dec. 26.
Household chemicals
Paint, pool chemicals, oil and other household hazardous waste are not collected by the city. Its FAQ sends residents to Lee County, 239-533-8000, at 6441 Topaz Court, where residents can drop them off free; details are on the county’s Household Chemical Waste and Electronics Recycling Facility page.
What this means for you
- Carts out by 6:30 a.m., and never on a Wednesday.
- Check the map: your bulk and yard day can differ from your trash day.
- Thanksgiving week, Thursday and Friday customers shift one day.
- The Solid Waste Division also picks up dead animals from city streets and rights of way: 239-321-8050.
Related: moving to Fort Myers, who to call at City Hall and hurricane prep for Lee County.
Frequently asked questions
What day is trash pickup in Fort Myers?
Once a week, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday depending on where you live. Recycling goes the same day as trash. There is no residential pickup on Wednesday.
What time does trash need to be out in Fort Myers?
The city asks for carts at the curb the night before, and no later than 6:30 a.m. on your collection day.
How do I get rid of furniture or a mattress in Fort Myers?
The city picks up bulk items once a week at no extra charge, up to 4 cubic yards. Bulk and yard waste have their own day, which may not match your trash day.
Is there trash pickup in Fort Myers on Thanksgiving and Christmas?
No. On Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, Thursday and Friday pickups move one day later. On Christmas, Friday, Dec. 25, Friday pickups move to Saturday.
Where do I take paint and electronics in Fort Myers?
The city does not take household chemicals. The city sends residents to Lee County, 239-533-8000, at 6441 Topaz Court. Electronics need a special pickup scheduled with the city.
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