Accomplishments

Accomplishments include the diversion of approximately 6,142 tons of recyclables from the waste stream annually.  These reductions enable the city to work towards the State Solid Waste Management guidelines.  Approximately 10,731 tons of refuse was transported to the Charlotte County Landfill. 

 The recycling contract is currently with Waste Management. The city curbside recycling program for residential units continues to be a “single stream” recycling program, doing away with the separation of the materials and using a 48-gallon cart for each residence.  The carts are serviced by automated vehicles.  Other materials have been added to the collection list.  Electronics such as TV’s, computers, VCR’s, monitors, etc. are collected.  In addition, the collection of tires, oil and car batteries are also included.

Verify your service area To verify your service area, click on the link below and enter your home address. This will help you determine if you're within the City Limits collection boundaries, which are outlined in blue: https://agis.charlottecountyfl.gov/ccgis/

Trash Carts and Recycling carts should be placed by the curb the evening prior of collection dates or by 5:00 am the day to collection. Sanitation Cart Information - Sizes and Fees

Construction Debris:  Construction Debris is NOT collected by the City of Punta Gorda and must be hauled away by the owner or contractor to the Charlotte County Landfill Charlotte County Landfill | Charlotte County, FL (charlottecountyfl.gov) or the Mini-Transfer & Recycling Facilities | Charlotte County, FL

 Construction and demolition debris includes, but is not limited to, materials such as steel, glass, brick, concrete, clay or asphalt roofing, pipes, gypsum wallboard, doors and windows and lumber. It also covers rocks, soil, sod, tree remains, and vegetative matter resulting from land clearing or land development for construction projects.

Whole Tree Removals and Lot Clearing:  Whole Tree Removals and Lot Clearing: Whole tree removal and lot clearing are not included in regular service. The property owner or contractor responsible for the work must handle the cleanup and disposal. The Charlotte County Landfill is an option for disposal. For more information, visit - Charlotte County Landfill | Charlotte County, FL

Yard Waste Collection:  

Each residential property is allowed up to three (3) cans of yard waste, with each can weighing no more than thirty-five (35) pounds. Each can must have a lid and handles. We recommend residents purchase a toter with wheels, a lid, and a metal bar across the front, which are compatible with the City's refuse trucks, available at most local hardware stores.

Limbs, branches, and similar yard waste should be no longer than four (4) feet in length and tied into bundles with string or rope. Residents may place up to three (3) bundles or paper bags of yard waste per property, with each bundle or bag not exceeding thirty-five (35) pounds. Plastic bags are not permitted.

Bulk Yard Waste Collection:  

Single-family residential properties must adhere to the following requirements for bulk pickup of vegetative yard waste:

The yard waste must be at least 1 cubic yard (approximately two 96-gallon trash cans) and no more than 5 cubic yards (5’x5’x5’). The pile should be placed on the right-of-way at the edge of the pavement, not on the driveway or roadway. Please avoid placing piles near or under power lines, trees, utility boxes, mailboxes, fire hydrants, or other obstacles.

Residents can request the special pick-up by calling the Public Works Department (941) 575-5050 or completing the online web request Schedule a Special Pick Up | City of Punta Gorda, FL (punta-gorda.fl.us)

Garbage:  

Household trash is collected twice a week. To ensure pickup, all trash should be at the curb by 5 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. Materials placed out after 5 a.m. will not be collected until the next scheduled pickup.

Containers should not exceed 35 lbs. in weight. Trash should be bagged inside the container to prevent wind-blown litter and leakage from wet waste, and to help keep animals out of your garbage. For multi-family units using dumpsters, please keep the dumpster lids closed to avoid bags being ripped open by birds or other animals.

To avoid collection issues, please keep toys, bikes, grills, and other items away from your trash.

Material NOT accepted for garbage:

• Tires
• Brush
• Rocks
• Dirt
• Construction & demolition debris
• Household hazardous wastes
• Flammable substances - All types of paint, stains, varnishes, oil, propane.
• Medical waste
• Sewage/Manure
• Yard waste
• Grass clippings
• Radioactive materials. 

Household Hazardous Waste - Items like antifreeze, batteries, cleaners, polishers, flares, gasoline, kerosene, pesticides, herbicides, pool chemicals, mercury, motor oil, used oil filters, paint, stains, and varnishes are considered Household Hazardous Waste. These items are not collected by our Sanitation Department. Homeowners must safely transport them to the Charlotte County Mini Transfer Station for proper disposal. Mini-Transfer & Recycling Facilities | Charlotte County, FL

Electronic Device Recycling Services:  Residents may place discarded electronics curbside for collection and proper disposal. Accepted items include, but are not limited to, computers, monitors, printers, TVs, VCRs, and DVD players. These will be collected on Fridays only by Waste Management, using a separate truck from the recycling collection. If an item cannot be picked up on the same day, an exception tag will be placed on it. In such cases, a special pickup request is required, which can be made by calling 941-575-5050.

Tires:  Car and street-size pickup truck tires (up to 25 inches in diameter) can be collected on your recycling day. You are allowed up to six (6) tires per year. Please place the tires, with or without rims, at the curb on your scheduled recycling day. A special pick-up request is required for this service. (details below).

Waste Oil & Oil Filters:  Residents can place waste oil at the curb, provided it is stored in a fully enclosed container. Use a self-contained container with a screw-on lid for used motor oil and a clear plastic bag for used oil filters. Waste Pro’s recycling trucks are equipped with a special compartment to transport waste oil containers. The orange color stickers are no longer required. A special pick-up request is necessary for this service (details below).

Batteries:  Non-leaking vehicle lead-acid batteries

Residents can request the special pick-up by calling the Public Works Department (941) 575-5050 or completing the online web request Sanitation | City of Punta Gorda, FL (punta-gorda.fl.us). 

 Appliances & White Goods:  White goods, including washing machines, refrigerators, stoves, dryers, water heaters, and similar appliances, cannot be disposed of with regular household trash at the County Landfill. These items are sent for recycling. The city manages the collection of white goods and schedules special pickups for these appliances every Friday.

Residents can request the special pick-up by calling the Public Works Department (941) 575-5050 or completing the online web request Sanitation | City of Punta Gorda, FL (punta-gorda.fl.us). 

Moving Boxes: Cardboard boxes must be emptied of all debris (plastic and Styrofoam are not permitted). The boxes should be broken down, flattened, and stacked about four feet away from the recycling container.    

Residents can request the special pick-up by calling the Public Works Department (941) 575-5050 or completing the online web request Sanitation | City of Punta Gorda, FL (punta-gorda.fl.us). 

Recycling:   

Recycling is collected once a week. The City contracts with Waste Management for curbside collection, using the “single stream” method, allowing all recyclables to be placed together in your container. Please only include the following items in your recycling bin: newspapers, magazines, office paper (no shredded paper), brown paper bags, paperboard cartons, dairy and juice containers, junk mail, phone books, flattened cardboard, plastic bottles (with the cap on), plastic containers, glass bottles and jars, aluminum cans, and tin or steel cans.

All items can be placed together in the same container. For curbside recycling, please ensure that cardboard is no larger than 4’ x 4’. Recycling collection schedule maps are available. See collection schedules.

The following materials are not allowed in recycling bins: liquids, food waste, fabric, wood, and Styrofoam. Please DO NOT include plastic bags in your recycling. These bags can get tangled in the sorting facility machinery, causing delays until they are manually removed.

MID-COUNTY MINI-TRANSFER & RECYCLING FACILITY: is free to use for Charlotte County residents, with proof of residency required—such as a valid driver’s license, utility bill, or tax bill. Please note that Post Office Box addresses are not accepted. The facility is located at 19675 Kenilworth Blvd in Murdock (Port Charlotte) and operates Tuesday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All unloading must be completed by 4 p.m. without exception. For more information or a complete list of accepted items, contact Charlotte County Solid Waste Services at (941) 764-4360 or visit the   Mini-Transfer & Recycling Facilities | Charlotte County, FL

Reuse Store:  CARE (Center for Abuse and Rape Emergencies) accepts donations of gently used household items, which are then sold to support victims of abuse in Charlotte County. Rather than throwing these items away, consider donating to CARE to help make a positive impact in your community.

The Chemical Reuse Shop offers residents free household products such as motor oil, furniture polish, and house paint. To receive these items, residents must sign a waiver of liability.

Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.

Acrobat Reader Windows Media Player Word Viewer Excel Viewer PowerPoint Viewer