Yard Waste
Last Content Update:
In September 2025, a municipal code ordinance amendment was approved by the city commission, outlining the volumes and capacities of yard waste to be addressed through the collection contract with Waste Management. This, like all ordinance amendments, was noticed, heard at the commission level for two readings, and was approved accordingly.
The city also held a solid waste workshop in November, providing an opportunity to educate, communicate, and share the expectations and responsibilities of both residents and property owners regarding solid waste management.
Waste Management has since begun the process of collecting green and blue carts that are beyond the level of service provided by the solid waste assessments paid per unit. The carts are not being confiscated; they are being reclaimed and repurposed for their intended use based on the color of the contractually provided container, not stickers or resident-applied markings. Owner-purchased cans are to be utilized as necessary for the collection process of Yard Waste.
The Municipal Code states the following:
ARTICLE II. – Collection and Disposal;
Sec. 58-31. - Container and receptacle requirements.
(e)Containers for yard waste are not provided as part of annual services. Provided garbage and recycling containers shall not be used for yard waste containerization.
The Utilities Department is happy to answer any concerns from the community. Please call 305-809-3906 or email the Utilities Department for help.
Green or blue Waste Management-issued carts may NOT be used for yard waste. If you need to purchase containers, the black or gray 40-gallon open-top cans or paper yard waste bags are recommended. If you purchased a wheeled cart that is NOT a city cart (meaning you purchased it on your own), you may still use it, provided it is not, or never was, a city-owned blue or green cart. You may not paint city-issued carts; they will not be serviced. Residents may set out up to 400 gallons (example: (four) 96-gallon carts/ or (six) 64-gallon carts/ or (ten) 40-gallon carts). Please open the lids when you place the container out for service. Yard waste must be less than 12" above the rim, and all carts should be labeled with your address. Please start transitioning to the recommended containers, as Waste Management will resume collection of non-compliant carts after the New Year.
City Code allows residents to place solid waste containers in the right-of-way at 4:00 PM the day before your scheduled pickup service and, by law, be removed from the right-of-way by 8:00 PM on the day you have service. Cans and carts cannot remain on the right-of-way, sidewalk, or the side of the road for the rest of the week after service has been rendered.
Yard waste is the natural material that grows in your yard; all the plant material, including fruit and coconuts. Water hoses are not yard waste material. Yard waste must be in containers, large paper bags, and no plastic bags. Yard waste placed into plastic bags will not be collected except as particular waste, which is chargeable.
Pickup for Large Yard Waste Items
For large amounts of yard waste (for example, cutting down a tree), call Waste Management Inc. at 305-296-8297 or any hauler for an estimate for pickup, or self-haul it to the City of Key West Solid Waste Transfer Station.
Landscapers and Yard maintenance professionals. Special notes. If you plan to remove large debris and set it out for pickup by Waste Management, you must call and schedule pickup ahead of time. Let Waste Management know when the work is planned, and contact them if there are any changes. We do not want parking places blocked for more than one day.
E-mail the City at recycle@cityofkeywest-fl.gov for more information or call 305-809-3776.