Background

The state capital of Florida, Tallahassee (pop. 186,971), is home to a fantastic number of recycling and waste-reduction programs spread across surrounding Leon County. Home to both Florida State University and Florida A&M University, there is an unusually high percentage of transient residents here, so recycling education is imperative to ensure that rates remain on the rise. Both the city and the county hold regularly scheduled waste collection events to ensure that recycling and hazardous materials drop-off is as convenient as possible. At the curb, the city uses green single-stream roll carts for weekly recycling collection.

Materials recycled

Paper Accepted items include corrugated cardboard (flattened), paperboard (flattened; no frozen food packaging or drink cartons), magazines, catalogs, newspapers and inserts, white paper, colored paper, phonebooks, envelopes, junk mail, paper bags, paperback books and shredded paper (may be secured in a paper bag). Plastic All plastic bottles and containers that hold 3 gallons or less are accepted (rinsed). No Styrofoam products or plastic bags. Metal Aluminum and steel/tin cans (rinsed), and clean aluminum pie trays are accepted. Glass All glass bottles and containers that hold 3 gallons or less are accepted. Rinse and remove lids (lids may be placed in recycling bin separately).

Frequency

Tallahassee recycles at the curb on a weekly basis, same day as refuse collection. Recycling carts must be curbside by 6:30 a.m. on collection day and should be at least 3 feet from any obstructions. Carts must return to property by the day following collection. A collection schedule is available online, or residents can use the city’s address lookup tool.

Other programs

Yard waste and bulky items are collected at the curb every other week (see the blue/red collection schedule link above). Accepted organics include grass clippings, leaves and pine and shrub trimmings (placed in heavy-duty trash bags or small cardboard boxes) and limbs no larger than 6 feet long and 4 inches in diameter, placed in piles no higher than 4 feet at the curb. Electronics are collected at the curb throughout Leon County. Place electronic items curbside on the regular refuse and recycling collection day to be counted. Electronics are collected on Thursdays regardless of regularly scheduled pick-up day. Call 850.891.4YOU for more details. Electronics and household hazardous waste items can be dropped off at twice-annual “Cash for Trash” events that occur in the spring and fall at the Solid Waste Services Facility at 2727 Municipal Way. Residents can present their utility bill to receive a coupon for $5 off the following month of service. Leon County residents may also take household hazardous waste to the county’s hazardous waste center at 7550 Apalachee Pkwy. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Construction and demolition materials are collected at residences by appointment only. Call 850.891.4YOU for details, or fill out an online request form. If a resident wants to drop off C&D materials, they are accepted at Marpan Recycling at 6020 Woodville Hwy.

More information

Visit the Leon County Recycling and Educational Services website for more recycling program info.