Recycling
Please click to view our Solid Waste Facility Site map to help you navigate our drop off sites.
Proof of Pasco County residency is required for services.
For more information about Pasco County's Solid Waste Facilities and standard pricing, please call 727-857-2780.
If you would like to start recycling in Pasco county, please call your trash hauler to request a recycling cart and for your recycling schedule.
The County does not pick up your recycling. Your recycling is picked up by your trash hauler.
Pasco county does not have access to trash hauler customer lists.
Pasco county has 8 licensed trash hauling companies who pick up your trash and recycling.
Our Mission
The Pasco County Recycling and Education Department is committed to reducing the waste stream through recycling, encouraging environmental stewardship, and providing educational resources for residents about the benefits of recycling and waste reduction.
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle
In Pasco County, please recycle these items:
We accept aluminum cans in our program.
Recycling just one aluminum can saves enough energy to power a standard laptop for two hours!
Please make sure cans are clean and dry.
We love cardboard!
Please make sure your cardboard is clean and dry. Once cardboard becomes wet, the fibers begin to break down and it can no longer be recycled.
In Pasco we accept corrugated cardboard boxes (please flatten), cereal boxes (without the plastic bag), tissue boxes, toilet paper tubes, paper towel tubes, pasta boxes, etc.
Please no soiled, dirty, or greasy cardboard.
We accept newspaper, office paper, junk mail, magazines, wrapping paper, and card stock.
Please make sure your paper is clean and dry. Once paper becomes wet, the fibers begin to fall apart, and it can no longer be recycled.
You can recycle plastic bottles, jugs, and small containers #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7.
Is the number too small to read? If the plastic container has a neck, it's probably recyclable in our program.
Please remember to rinse your plastic containers thoroughly and throw away both caps and squirt bottle nozzles.
You can recycle metal food cans. Does the top have a pull tab? Can you use a can opener? You can recycle it!
Please give cans a quick rinse and dry before recycling.
In Pasco County, please do not recycle these items:
- Why no ____?
- Glass
- Plastic bags
- Styrofoam
- Juice and Milk Cartons
- Tanglers
- Nothing Wet or Dirty
- Size Restrictions
Why no ____?
We can only accept the items listed because the machines that separate recycling are only designed for certain items.
Anything else can cause the machines to seize up, slow down, or even break.
Recycling markets are local, meaning that acceptable recycling items may vary from state to state and from county to county.
Remember:
When in doubt, throw it out!
Pasco County does not recycle glass.
Unfortunately, there are no viable, scalable, fiscally responsible markets for glass in Florida, meaning that there is nowhere for the recycled glass to go at the back end of the process where we can be sure it is recycled into new glass.
Also, glass contaminates the rest of your recycling. The glass dust and glass shards get into other materials making them less recyclable.
No: Glass bottles
No: Windows
No: Glass jars
Tossing your glass in the trash sends it to our Waste-to-Energy plant where it can be used in future, sustainable public works projects, leaving less of a carbon footprint.
Removing glass from Pasco's recycling program was ultimately the more environmentally-friendly option!
Pasco county does not recycle plastic bags and wraps.
Plastic bags and wraps act as tanglers in the recycling separation machinery. These tangled plastic bags and wraps can cause the recycling separation machinery to shut down or even break.
No: Grocery bags
No: Plastic film
No: Produce bags
You are welcome to recycle plastic bags and wraps at large grocery store chains.
You are able to recycle plastic bags and wraps at these locations because you (as the customer) sort the materials for them!
Pasco county does not recycle Styrofoam.
Styrofoam breaks apart easily in recycling separation machinery and contaminates other items.
No: To-go cups
No: Take-out containers
No: Packing peanuts
You are welcome to recycle Styrofoam at large grocery store chains.
You are able to recycle Styrofoam at these locations because you (as the customer) sort the materials for them!
Pasco county does not recycle Milk and Juice cartons.
Modern cartons are created by layering plastic, paperboard, and aluminum.
This layering of materials makes it difficult for cartons to be recycled properly.
No: Milk cartons
No: Creamer cartons
No: Juice cartons
Pasco county does not recycle any tanglers.
These tanglers get caught in recycling separation machinery and can cause machinery to shut down and even break.
No: Extension cords
No: Wire hangers
No: Computer cables
No: Ropes or strings
Pasco county does not recycle messy or contaminated items.
Messy items can ruin other clean recyclables in a load. Cardboard and paper items are especially at-risk of being ruined by other messy items.
Please give your recyclable items a quick rinse and dry before putting in the bin.
No: Greasy pizza boxes
No: Food residues
No: Half-empty shampoo bottles
No: Liquids
Pasco county does not recycle items that are larger than a cat litter container.
Recycling machinery is not designed for large items and they are removed prior to the recycling sorting process.
No: Tires
No: Laundry baskets
No: Storage bins
Pasco county does not recycle items that are smaller than your fist.
Items that are smaller than your fist tend to fall through the recycling machinery and cannot be recycled properly.
No: Bottle caps
No: Single-use coffee pods
No: Straws and lids