Residential Recycling

Recycle Only These Items in Your Recycling Cart:

• Plastic bottles, jars, jugs, tubs and cups
• Glass bottles and jars
• Metal cans
• Paper, cardboard, cartons and cups

Three Basic Rules for Recycling

1. Remove all food waste from containers
2. Fill your container with clean and dry recyclables
3. Do not bag your recyclables. Do not place any type of plastic bags in your recycling cart

How Do I Dispose of Special Items or Household Hazardous Waste?

Visit one of Collier County's conveniently located Recycling Drop-Off Centers. For a current list of accepted materials and rates, visit our Drop-Off Center/Facilities webpage.

How Can I Recycle Plastic Bags or Packaging?

Plastic bags are not recyclable in your curbside recycling. Plastic bags get tangled in equipment used to sort recyclables, which becomes a safety issue for workers. You can drop off plastic bags and packaging at participating stores to be recycled.

Where Does My Recycling Go?

All residential recycling that is collected at the curb is hauled to a Material Resource Facility (MRF) located outside of the county. At the MRF, the material is sorted, baled and shipped to third party wholesalers. Recycled material is then processed into new material, such as bottles, containers, clothes, bicycles, furniture and paper.

Reuse Directory(PDF, 2MB)

Thank you for choosing to reuse and donate. You make a difference in our community and our environment. Donating gently used items can help those in need and preserve paradise. Choosing to reuse and donate items allows them to have a second life and not end up in a landfill.

Organizations wishing to be added to this directory, please email recycling@collier.gov.

This directory is an alphabetical listing of reuse and recycling organizations in Collier County. Listings are not endorsed or recommended and should not be considered a complete listing of services provided in Collier County. Please call the organization to confirm accepted items.

Tours

Collier County offers tours of the county owned Landfill, Landfill Gas-to-Energy Facility, Household Hazardous Collection Center and the county's four main Recycling Drop-Off Centers. Tours can be catered to the audience's interests and presentations are available on site or remotely. Participants will learn how Collier County's programs and services for waste, recycling, and household hazardous waste are managed to keep Collier County the best place to live, work and play. 

Tour details:

• An appointment is mandatory - available Monday through Friday.
• Guests must provide their own transportation (busses can be accommodated)
• Schools and universities, groups, civic associations, homeowner associations are welcomed
• The length and content of the tour can be accommodated to best suit your groups interest

Presentations

Collier County offers in-person or virtual presentations on how garbage is managed, curbside services, the proper disposal of household hazardous waste, the importance of recycling and what items are recyclable, hurricane preparation and how to use the county's recycling search tool and game. The length and content of presentations can be personalized to fit the group's interests.

Presentations are available to:

• Civic Organizations
• Homeowners Associations
• Schools and Universities
• Business Employees
• Collier County Residents

To schedule a tour or presentation, please email recycling@collier.gov

Please include the following information:

• Contact name, email and telephone number
• Total number of participants
• Age of children participants
• Additional information you would like us to know (i.e. participant limitations, accommodations, etc.)

View Collier County's Recycling Ordinance 

Collier County Recycling Ordinance(PDF, 1MB)

We Recycle Foam in Collier County

Collier County accepts foam polystyrene to be recycled into new materials. Foam polystyrene can only be dropped off at a Recycling Drop-Off Center. Do not place foam polystyrene in curbside recycling carts.

Recycling Drop-Off Centers only accept the following foam polystyrene products:

• Clean packaging used for appliances, electronics, furniture and coolers
• Clean food containers such as egg cartons, trays, cups and plates

Recycling Drop-Off Centers do not accept the following foam polystyrene products:

• Packing peanuts
• Thin-flexible foam
• Foam with stickers or tape
• Black, blue and pink foam

Foam polystyrene can be recycled into several products, such as surfboards, picture frames, construction material and packaging.

Holiday Recycling Guide

Christmas Tree Disposal

If you have residential curbside service: 

If you live in a single-family home with curbside collection, you can place your real Christmas tree curbside on your scheduled yard waste collection day. Be sure the tree is decoration-free—remove all lights, tinsel and ornaments. Do not wrap the tree in plastic. If your tree is over 6 feet long, it must be cut in half, so it fits into the collection truck. Please your tree curbside before 6 a.m. on your collection day, but no earlier than 6 p.m. the evening before .You can also drop off your real tree free of charge at a Collier County Recycling Drop-Off Center. 

For artificial Christmas trees, if the tree is still in good condition, consider donating it. If not, you can place it curbside on your bulky item collection day. 

If you live in a condominium with commercial service: 

If you live in a multi-family complex with dumpster or compactor service, contact your property management for instructions on how to dispose of your real Christmas tree. Do not place trees in dumpsters or compactors. You can take your real Christmas tree to one of Collier County’s Recycling Drop-Off Centers free of charge.

For artificial trees, if the tree is in good condition, consider donating it. For a list of places where you can donate, check out Collier County’s Reuse Directory at www.colliercountyfl.gov/reuse. Otherwise, you can take it to one of Collier County’s Recycling Drop-Off Centers, but fees and restrictions may apply.

How to Recycle Wrapping Paper

Most wrapping paper is recyclable and can go in your curbside recycling cart. However, the following wrapping materials cannot be recycled and should be reused or thrown in the garbage:

• Ribbon
• Bows
• Bubble Wrap
• Tissue Paper
• Tinsel 
• Flocked Wrapping Paper 
• Foil-Wrapped Paper
• Glittered Wrapping Paper

How to Recycle Cardboard & Gift Boxes

Gift boxes: You can either reuse them or place them in your recycling cart. 

Cardboard boxes: To be recycled, cardboard boxes must be broken down and flattened. If boxes are not flattened or placed in the recycling cart, they will not be recycled. Remove all paper and packing materials from boxes. 

How to Reduce Waste During the Holidays 

Ditch the Paper

Use wrapping paper substitutes, like decorated brown paper bags, or cardboard boxes, children's artwork or newspapers. Or you can use holiday gift bags that can be reused. 

D.I.Y. the Decor 

Craft your own decorations or visit your local thrift store for options and them for next time. 

Gift Swaps

Reuse gifts you do not need or want by swapping or re-gifting.   

Send Electronic Invitations 

Instead of paper invitations, send electronic invitations or create an event page on social media to keep track of your guests. 

Free Resources

1. Residential Guidebook(PDF, 5MB): A comprehensive guide on proper waste disposal and recycling.
2. Trilingual "Recycle This!" Magnet(PDF, 2MB): A tool outlining recyclable items in your community.

For additional educational materials such as signage, brochures, magnets, door hangers, stickers, and more to promote proper recycling reach out to Recycling Coordinators at recycling@collier.gov. Recycling Coordinators are also available to visit your community and provide free presentations. We are eager to collaborate with your community and make recycling even easier.

Helpful Recycling Links

• How to Recycle Right in Collier County - Video
• How a Landfill Works - Video
• Avoid Confusion at the Bin - Video 
• Multi-Family Recycling 101 - Video
• Are My Recycling Efforts Going to Waste?(PDF, 688KB) - Article