Collier County Recycling Centers: Your Guide to Easy, Eco-Friendly Recycling

Looking for a recycling center in Naples Florida? You’ve come to the right place! In this article, we will provide you with all the information you need to find the best recycling center for your needs. We’ll discuss what materials each recycling center accepts, as well as their hours of operation and location. So whether you’re looking to recycle glass, plastic, metal, or paper, we have you covered!

Recycling Centers in Collier County:

Drop-Off Centers & Facilities

Collier County’s Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Division is committed to the protection and preservation of our natural environment by providing four conveniently located Recycling Drop-Off Centers for an environmentally safe disposal of items. Most items are accepted free of charge, helping to minimize illegal dumping in the community.

Locations

Map of Recycling Drop-Off Centers

Recycling Drop-Off Centers are open

8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Saturday

Northeast (Tim Nance Center)

825 39th Ave NE

North Collier

9950 Goodlette Frank Rd. N

Naples

2640 Corporate Flight Dr.

Marco Island

990 Chalmer Dr.

Hazardous Materials Collection Center

3728 White Lake Blvd.

Carnestown Recycling Drop-Off Center

31201 Tamiami Trail E

Open on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Carnestown does not accept light bulbs, medical sharps or needles

Immokalee Transfer Station

700 Stockade Rd., Immokalee, FL

Open Monday – Saturday 7:30-11:30 a.m. 12:30-3:30 p.m.

(Hand unloading until 3:15 p.m.)

RECYCLING DROP-OFF CENTER RATES & ACCEPTED MATERIAL

ACCEPTED MATERIAL AT RECYCLING DROP-OFF CENTERS	FEES AND RATES FOR COLLIER COUNTY RESIDENTS 10/1/2021-9/30/2022
Ammunition	No Charge
Antifreeze	No Charge
Ballasts	No Charge for 1st ballast. $7.00 each ballast over 1
Batteries including Vehicle and Marine Batteries	No Charge
Bulbs – Fluorescent	No Charge for up to 20 per visit; $1.00 for each bulb over 20
Bulbs – HID	$2.00/each
Bulbs – Ultraviolet (UV)	$6.00/each
Diesel	No Charge
Electronic TV’s	No Fee for up to 3 TVs per visit; $11.00 for each TV over 3
Electronics (non – TVs)	No charge
Fire Extinguisher	No Charge
Flares	No Charge
Foam (no peanuts)	No Charge
Freon handling per item	$7.00/each
Gasoline	No Charge
Household Hazardous Waste (e.g., pesticide, herbicide, pool chemicals)	No Charge
Mercury Devices	No Charge
Oil – Cooking	No Charge
Oil – Used	No Charge
Oil Filters	No Charge
Paint and Stains (Oil/Latex)	No Charge for up to 200 lbs. per day; $1.00 per lb. over 200 lbs.
Paper Shredding – Daily	No charge up to 5 lbs. $1.00/lb. over 5 lbs.
Paper Shredding – onsite truck (monthly event)	No charge for up to 20 lbs. per day; $1.00/lb. over 20 lbs.
Propane Tanks (e.g., camping, grilling) up to 30 lbs.	No Charge
Sharps (Needles) In an approved plastic container	No Charge
Tires – 15″ or smaller	$4.00/each up to 5 per visit
Tires – 16″ to 18″	$9.00/each up to 5 per visit
Tires – Large tractor, commercial or heavy equipment	Only accepted at Collier County Landfill & Immokalee Transfer Station. Reference Schedule B
Yard Waste/Biomass or Construction & Demolition materials	$12.00/per visit only accepted at Marco Island & Naples Drop off Center 1 cubic yard maximum

HAZARDOUS WASTE

Very Small Quantity Generator

A business that qualifies as a Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG) of hazardous waste can piggyback the county’s contracted rate for hazardous waste disposal that also would avoid the hazardous waste disposal company’s trip charges for pickup at their respective business locations.  A VSQG generates less than 220 pounds of hazardous waste and less than 2.2 pounds of acute hazardous waste in a single calendar month. For more information or to make an appointment, please call (239) 252-8480 or email recycling@colliercountyfl.gov

We Inspect

To protect our public health, safety, and environment from the improper management of hazardous waste, Solid Waste staff perform regular Compliance Assistance Verification (CAV) inspections of businesses that have the potential to generate, store, transport or dispose of hazardous waste in Collier County. Each year, more than twenty percent of 5,000 businesses receive CAV inspections. This program ensures compliance with Collier County’s Water Pollution Control Program (Ordinance 89-20).

Solid Waste also works closely with Collier County’s Risk Management, and other county government departments that manage hazardous waste, to ensure that all county hazardous waste generating facilities are properly managed.

PHARMACEUTICAL WASTE

SAFE & EFFECTIVE DISPOSAL

Proper disposal of pharmaceutical waste is very important as some medicines present a health risk to you, your family, your community and the environment.  Throwing medication away may lead to accidental ingestion by children or pets. It may also lead  to improper use of medication due to theft. Flushing medication down the sink or toilet is not a  safe disposal method.

Improper disposal of pharmaceutical waste may contaminate soil or seep into the groundwater and contaminate drinking water supplies. They may also run off into the nearest body of  water where they can poison or kill fish and other wildlife. Traces of medications such as hormones and antibiotics have been found in surface waters across the United States. 

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS STORAGE TANK COMPLIANCE

The Hazardous Materials Storage Tank Compliance Verification Program is designed to limit the number of hazardous material discharges and to ensure that any discharges are abated and remediated when they do occur.  There are more than five million gallons of different pollutants stored in over 700 regulated tanks in Collier County. These hazardous materials are fuel and lubrication for our vehicles, diesel-fueled emergency power for our buildings, pesticides for our agricultural fields and mineral acids for water treatment and fertilizer production. However, most of these necessary chemicals are also carcinogenic to humans and harmful to all living organisms.

Collier County depends on groundwater for all of its drinking water. If consumed, petroleum fuels are so carcinogenic that one gallon of fuel would contaminate one million gallons of groundwater. The average cost of a petroleum cleanup discharge from a tank system is $400,000 and takes three to five years of continuous remediation and monitoring. Petroleum discharges may exceed $1 million in costs and require 15 years of remediation and monitoring.

We Inspect

In Florida, above ground storage tanks larger than 550 gallons or underground tanks larger than 110 gallons are required to be registered. The Storage Tank Compliance Verification Program of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) strives to provide private and public tank owners with detailed information concerning the equipment, environmental status and regulatory compliance of their state-registered tanks and fuel systems.  Solid Waste staff conducts hundreds of tank inspections every year on behalf of the FDEP and provides follow-ups of inquiries, experienced feedback, compliance assistance and training services to all registered tank owners in the county. 

We Monitor Our Own

Solid Waste works closely with Collier County’s Risk Management and other county government departments that manage storage tanks, to ensure that all county-owned storage tanks are properly managed, registered as required and are adequately insured. Currently there are more than 400 county-owned tanks. The team also works closely with county representatives in the preparation and implementation of Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans, to comply with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules, as well as providing the required annual training to the operators of county facilities. Spill response plans and instructions have also been individually created for each county-owned facility with storage tanks and these plans are designed to enhance the county’s capability to respond to, and efficiently clean up, any pollutant spills in a quick and effective manner.

BENEFITS

The proactive approach applied to the Hazardous Materials Storage Tank Compliance Verification Program minimizes hazardous materials discharges from storage tanks in Collier County which could be dangerous to our health, groundwater resources and our environment.

Infomercial for Collier County’s Hazardous Materials Storage Tank Compliance Verification Program

Solid Waste Curbside Collection and Disposal Services include:

• Twice-a-week curbside collection of household waste
• Once-a-week recycling collection
• Once-a-week yard waste collection
• Call (239) 252-2380 to schedule collection of appliances, electronics, standard vehicle tires or vehicle batteries

CURBSIDE COLLECTION

Place household waste in the green top cart. You may use up to 10 bags of heavy-duty plastic bags for excess household waste.

• Place recyclables in the yellow top cart. See more details on recycling in Collier County.
• Hazardous waste does NOT belong in curbside containers. Please bring hazardous waste to the nearest recycling drop-off center for proper disposal.
• Click HERE to find your collection days.
• There will be NO collection services of any kind on the following holidays:
  Fourth of July
  Thanksgiving Day
  Christmas Day

Curbside Service

• If you are a new homeowner or renter and do not have a recycle or garbage cart, please call 239-252-2380 to obtain one. You may also purchase additional carts through Waste Management at 239-649-2212.
• Garbage and Recycle carts are assigned to each home, not to the homeowner. If you move residences, please leave the garbage and recycle carts.
• For cart repair and/or replacements call 239-252-2380.

Curbside Carts Placement Guidelines

• Carts and materials must be placed at least three feet from mailboxes and other obstacles.
  
• You must place carts curbside no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before and no later than 6 a.m. on collection day.
  
• Remove carts from curbside by 6 a.m. on the day after the scheduled service.

Bulk Waste Guidelines

Once per week collection of bulk waste.

This does NOT include Construction & Demolition debris, which must be taken to the Collier County Landfill for disposal.

• Bulk waste does not require advanced scheduling and can be set out curbside on your recycling day for collection. 
  
• Bulk waste items include sofas, mattresses, tables, sinks, toilets, furniture, ladders and carpet.
  
• All items must be disassembled, if possible, into sections or pieces less than 50 pounds in weight and four feet in length, prior to pick up.
  
• Items containing gas or oil such as generators, power washers and mowers must be drained prior to collection.
  
• For the safety of collections staff, remove batteries from all items prior to disposal. Even small batteries can cause truck fires.

Yard Waste Guidelines

Once per week collection of yard waste.

• Yard waste is collected on the same day as recycling.
• Place yard waste in bundles, paper bags and personal containers. You may place a combination of up to 10 bundles/ paper bags/ personal containers per week.
• Bundles should weigh less than 50 pounds, be secured with twine and no longer than four feet. Branches may not be larger than four inches in diameter.
• Use ONLY paper yard waste bags or paper grocery bags.
• Plastic bags will NOT be accepted.
• Put all leaves, grass, and other trimmings in paper bags.
• You may use 45-gallon personal containers that weigh less than 50 pounds when filled. Yard waste may not extend more than 12 inches over the top of the container.
• Items must be placed at least three feet from mailboxes and other obstacles.
• Items must be placed curbside no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before and no later than 6 a.m. on collection day.
• Christmas trees six feet in length or less may be placed curbside for pickup.

Electronic Disposal Guidelines

Once per week collection of electronics. Please call (239) 252-2380, 48 hours in advance to schedule a pickup of electronics.

• Items must be placed at least three feet from mailboxes and other obstacles.
• Items must be placed curbside no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before and no later than 6 a.m. on collection day.
• Electronics include items such as:Computers
  Monitors
  Printers
  Scanners
  Fax Machines
  Televisions

Appliance Disposal Guidelines

Once per week collection of appliances. Please call (239) 252-2380, 48 hours in advance to schedule a pickup of appliances.

• Items must be placed at least three feet from mailboxes and other obstacles.
• Items must be placed curbside no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before and no later than 6 a.m. on collection day.
• Appliances include refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, washers, dryers, microwaves and water heaters.
• All doors must be removed to avoid entrapment of children and all contents must be removed. 

Tire & Vehicle Battery Disposal Guidelines

Please call 239-252-2380, 48 hours in advance to schedule a pickup of tires and/or auto batteries.

• Items must be placed at least three feet from mailboxes and other obstacles.
• Items must be placed curbside no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before and no later than 6 a.m. on collection day.
• You may dispose of two vehicle batteries per month.
• You may dispose of four standard vehicle tires with or without rims, less than 33 inches in diameter per month.

Helpful Links

Residential Guide to Waste Disposal and Recycling

Curbside Collection Cart Maintenance Video: English

RECYCLE

Once per week residential curbside recycling collection.

• Place clean, dry, and loose (not bagged) recyclables inside your yellow top container.
  
• Carts and materials must be placed at least three feet from mailboxes and other obstacles.
  
• Cardboard must be broken down to 3′ x 3′ to be collected as recyclable.
  
• You must place carts curbside no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before and no later than 6 a.m. on collection day.
  
• Remove carts from curbside by 6 a.m. on the day after the scheduled service.
  
• For plastic bag and film packaging drop off sites visit: www.plasticfilmrecycling.org.
  
• Your cart is assigned to your home’s address, not to the homeowner. Residential addresses are issued one cart, customer may request a second cart at no charge. If you need a second cart call 239-252-2380.

Click here to see a map of all Collier County recycling drop-off centers

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

Please do NOT put hazardous waste (paint, chemicals, batteries, lightbulbs, etc.) in your curbside containers.  

Residential Hazardous Waste is NOT eligible for curbside collection. All hazardous waste must be disposed of at a recycling drop-off center. 

Commercial businesses who produce hazardous waste should call 239-252-8484 to schedule a drop off at the Hazardous Materials Collection Center.

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

There will be NO collection services of any kind on the following holidays:
Fourth of July
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day

If your regular collection day falls on any of these holidays, collection will be made on your next regularly scheduled collection day; there are no make up days. Customer Service phone lines are closed on the above holidays.

Regular collection services will occur on all other holidays (for example, Memorial Day, Labor Day, New Year’s Day) and Customer Service phone lines are open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 239-252-2380.

Regular hours for Customer Service phone lines are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday at 239-252-2380

You can also email Customer Service at utilitybill@colliercountyfl.gov 

HELPFUL LINKS

Residential Guide to Waste Disposal and Recycling

Solid Waste Ordinance 118

Solid Waste Rate Resolution

Curbside Collection Cart Maintenance Video: English

Curbside Collection Cart Maintenance Video: Spanish

Before Digging Call 811

Click here to see your residential curbside collection days

RESIDENTIAL RECYCLING

Only place these items into your curbside recycling cart:

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

Remember these three basic rules the next time you recycle

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

What can I do with 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 colliercountyfl.gov/dispose

How can I recycle plastic bags or packaging?

Plastic bags are not recyclable in 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. To find your nearest drop-off location, visit plasticfilmrecycling.org

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.

Helpful Links

Residential Guidebook to Waste Disposal and Recycling

English, Spanish, Creole – What’s Recyclable at Home

Are my Recycling Efforts Going to Waste?

Recycling Tips

BUSINESS RECYCLING

Recycling is mandatory for all businesses in Collier County

Per Collier County Ordinance 2009-56 recycling is mandatory for business, temporary events, facilities and institutions.

For recyclable materials to have a second life and become new products, it is important that only the right items, free from contamination make their way into your recycling container.

Business owners in Collier County are required to provide a recycling program for their employees and tenants using the services of a permitted hauler or private recycling hauler.

To learn more or if you need assistance setting-up a recycling program at your business, call (239) 252-7575 to speak with a Recycling Coordinator.

Recycling is just one step in a series of proper waste management techniques.  Before you begin your recycling program, think of how you will do it effectively. We work closely with local businesses to create successful, cooperative commercial/business waste reduction and recycling programs.  Should you require assistance, our Recycling Coordinators are here to help.  We will come to your facility and provide a waste assessment and discuss various recycling techniques to get you started. To set up an appointment with a Recycling Coordinator, please call 239-252-7575. Collier Recycling Ordinance No. 2009-56 Construction and Demolition (C&D)

C&D is a significant and growing portion of the waste produced in Florida today. The material generated is mostly concrete, asphalt, wood, drywall, metals, cardboard, and asphalt shingles. 

Section 403.703 of the Florida Statues define C&D as “…discarded materials generally considered to be not water-soluble and nonhazardous in nature, including, but not limited to, steel, glass, brick, asphalt roofing material, pipe, gypsum wallboard, and lumber from the construction or destruction of a structure as part of a construction or demolition project or from the renovation of a structure, and including rocks, soils, tree remains, trees, and other vegetative matter that normally results from land clearing or land development operations…” 

Contractors shall provide quarterly reports to the County identifying, at a minimum, the types and amounts of recyclable material that they collected. For more details, call 239-252-7575 to speak to a Recycling Coordinator.

Benefits of C&D Recycling

Businesses in the construction, remodeling, roofing, and demolition industries benefit from recycling.

• Reduces disposal and transportation costs, and the cost of new construction materials by recycling old materials on site

• Reduces the environmental impact of producing new materials

• Saves energy and reduces the production of greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants

• Conserves landfill airspace

• Reduces the need for new landfills

• Recycling generates reuse for certain materials

Some types of C&D Materials That Can NOT Be Recycled 

Certain types of materials collected from C&D projects are considered toxic or classified as hazardous waste.  Types of hazardous C&D materials include latex and lead paint, chemical solvent, adhesives and asbestos.  For information on the proper disposal of hazardous materials, please visit our “Hazardous Materials Management Webpage.”

Helpful Business Recycling Information:

• Mandatory Recycling for Businesses 
• Don’t Overload Your Dumpster 
• List of Recycling Haulers in Collier County

EVENT RECYCLING

HOW TO GET STARTED

 Event organizers must contract with Waste Management Inc., (239) 649-2212, for garbage service if the event is located in Collier County.

• If your event is located in the Immokalee area you must contract with Waste Pro, (239) 657-2729, for your garbage service.
• If your event is located in the City of Naples please contact the City of Naples Recycling Coordinator at (239) 213-4700 for additional information.
• Recycling is a free market, so you may contract with a separate licensed recycling hauler. Click here for a list of recycling haulers
• The Solid & Hazardous Waste Management Division has portable recycling containers you may borrow (when available), and staff can provide assistance in setting up the recycling at your temporary event. Call (239) 252-7575 and ask to speak to a Recycling Coordinator.

PERMIT REQUIREMENTS BEFORE THE EVENT

Collier County Ordinance No. 2009-56: “Any person seeking a permit for a temporary event within Collier County shall complete and submit with their permit application the Solid & Hazardous Waste Management Department’s Temporary Event Recycling Plan.” Be sure you submit the following with your permit application.

• Solid Waste Temporary Event Recycling Plan
• Solid Waste Haulers Contract
• Recycling Haulers Contract or a Self-Hauling Certificate 

PREPARATIONS BEFORE THE EVENT

Prior to your temporary event, organizers must include the following:

• Complete and submit your Temporary Event Recycling Plan with your permit.
• Determine if self-managing or contacting the franchised waste hauler for the event to ensure the proper type and number of containers are used for hauling waste from the event (recycling/garbage). Containers must be close topped and sealed to prevent leakage.
• Provide a suitable number of recyclable containers to make recycling convenient for all visitors attending the event. One recycling container should be placed for each waste container side by side in event areas.
• Use proper labeling and placement to maximize recycling.
• Provide recycling information to staff/vendors at meetings and in written information provided.
• Make sure staff/vendors know where containers are located and what containers are used for, (i.e. cardboard, trash, recycling). This should include both front of the house containers and back of the house containers for proper disposal and recycling.
• Ensure enough staff and volunteers are available to monitor garbage and recycling activities.

During the Event

• Have emcees announce that you have recycling collection containers at your event and encourage participation.
• Promote recycling of items generated at your event, such as cardboard, beverage containers made of plastic, glass, and aluminum.
• Inspect your recycling containers to help prevent contamination.
• Ensure enough staff and volunteers are available to keep garbage and recycling from overflowing.
• Require vendors to separate and flatten cardboard for recycling.

 After the Event 

• Reduce your waste by reusing or donating leftover items and/or food.
• Ensure all recyclables are properly recycled.
• Do not place recyclables in your garbage.
• Report amount of recycling and garbage collected at event to the Solid & Hazardous Waste Management Division. recycling@colliercountyfl.gov or call 239-252-7575.

If you have any questions about these guidelines or are unsure if your recycling plan meets these criteria, please contact a Collier County Recycling Coordinator at 239-252-7575

HOLIDAY RECYCLING

Holiday Recycling

How do I dispose of my Christmas tree if I have residential curbside service?

Residents of single family homes with curbside collection service may place Christmas trees curbside on their regularly scheduled yard waste collection day. The tree will be collected free of charge. Trees must be free of all decorations including lights, tinsel and ornaments.

Do not wrap trees in plastic. In order to fit into the waste collection trucks, trees over six feet in length must be cut in half. Trees should be placed curbside before 6 a.m. on the yard waste collection day, but no earlier than 6 p.m. the evening prior.

I live in a condominium with commercial service, how do I dispose of my Christmas tree?

Residents of multi-family complexes, those with dumpster and compactor service, may contact the property management. Please do not place trees in dumpsters or compactors.

Live Christmas trees may also be taken to one of Collier County’s recycling drop-off centers at no charge.  Artificial Christmas trees are not accepted at recycling drop-off centers.

What do I do with my cardboard and gift boxes?

Gift boxes can be reused or be placed in your recycling cart. Cardboard boxes will only be recycled if broken down flat. Flatten and place small boxes into your recycling cart. Make sure the cardboard does not stop other recyclables from being emptied. Remove all paper and packing material. Cut large boxes to a size not exceeding three feet by three feet. You may place large flattened cardboard next to your recycling cart on the day your recycling is collected. Remember that if you choose not to break down your boxes or place them in your recycling cart, they will not be recycled.

How do I recycle wrapping paper?

Most wrapping paper is fully recyclable and may be placed in your curbside recycling cart. Wrapping material that is not recyclable and must be disposed of in the trash includes:                        

• Ribbon
• Bows
• Tissue Paper
• Flocked wrapping paper                                               
• Foiled wrapping paper
• Glittered wrap

ECO-FRIENDLY IDEAS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Green ideas for holiday season:

• Wrap gifts in creative wrapping paper substitutes, such as decorated brown paper grocery bags, children’s art work, old maps, newspapers, Sunday comics, or holiday gift bags that can be reused.  Reusing gift bags is a great way to recycle over and over again.
• Shipping boxes can also be recycled.  The reuse of shipping boxes is fairly easy.  Simply cut open the box, flip it inside out, and then use non-toxic paint to decorate the outside of the box.
• If you use traditional wrapping, look for recycled-content wrapping paper.
• If you send holiday cards, buy recycled content cards and envelopes.
• Send electronic cards, they are fun and save trees and energy.

Disposal Locations

HELPFUL RECYCLING LINKS

Are my Recycling Efforts Going to Waste?

How Single Stream Recycling Works

Recycle Bagged Recyclables Right

How a Landfill Works

How a Material Recovery Facility Works 

Avoid Confusion at the Bin

Multi-Family Recycling 101

*This webpage was created from the Collier County (FL) government. All of the information was obtained from https://www.colliercountyfl.gov/government/public-utilities/