Junk removal in Florida: what it costs and your cheaper options
Before you pay for junk removal in Florida, check two cheaper routes: your city's bulk pickup, which is often already paid for in your trash bill, and hauling it yourself to the county landfill or transfer station. Here's what each costs with real Florida fees, and when a crew is worth it.
Start with your city's pickup
Many Florida cities pick up furniture and other large items from the curb as part of the service you already pay for:
- Clearwater takes furniture and large items from the curb on your regular collection day, every week, with no appointment.
- City of Miami residents get weekly curbside bulky pickup for furniture, appliances and yard trash.
- Jacksonville collects bulky items on your bulk day, within 5 feet of the curb; appliances and tires need their own scheduled collection.
- Fort Lauderdale picks up bulk monthly but excludes anything heavy.
- Cape Coral runs its own resident Bulk Waste Drop-Off at 1200 Kismet Parkway, so you don't have to haul to the county landfill.
Haul it yourself: what Florida dumps charge
If you have a truck or trailer, the gate fee is usually small next to a hauler's price. Here is what the Florida sites we cover charge:
| City | Residents pay | Standard gate rate | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | $1 for the first 500 lbs on Saturdays (residents) | $30.30/ton; yard waste $25/ton | Declare tires and appliances at the scale house: a tire is $1.50 declared, $13.50 dumped on the hill |
| Panama City | $5 flat at Bayline Drive (residents); $50 punch card for 26 visits | $38.19/ton at Steelfield Road, $5 minimum | Bayline takes small loads only; free Waste Amnesty Days twice a year |
| Pensacola | No resident discount | $45.06/ton, $11.64 minimum; yard trash $27.62 | Clean concrete and clean dirt are free |
| Lakeland | Residents use the North Central Transfer Station | $48.30/ton since Oct. 1, 2026, $10 minimum | The landfill itself is now commercial haulers only |
| Orlando | $10 minimum | $56.40/ton; C&D $42.70 (landfill only); yard waste $48.70 | Uncovered loads pay double |
| Clearwater & St. Petersburg | $4.25 a car, $11.75 a pickup, flat | $58.86/ton ($63.57 from Oct. 1, pending approval) | Out-of-county waste pays double |
| Tampa | City: free at McKay Bay + 1 free S.W.E.E.P. pickup a year. County: 10 cubic yards a year free | Commercial rates at the Southeast County Landfill | The County centers' bulky allowance is for County customers only |
| Sarasota | No resident discount | $60.85/ton, $15 minimum; yard trash $47.43 | Mixed loads charged double; plastic bags with yard waste cost $15 |
| Fort Myers & Cape Coral | $15 flat per citizen load at Buckingham; Cape Coral runs its own residents' bulk drop-off | $69.83/ton; C&D $70.25; yard waste $43.92; $15 minimum | Lee County waste only; shingles go to the Felda landfill |
| Fort Lauderdale | $10 per passenger vehicle | $100/ton bulk and C&D; yard trash $75 | The County landfill takes no household garbage |
| West Palm Beach | No resident discount | $42/ton; yard waste $35; C&D $80; $10 minimum | Out-of-county waste is $156/ton |
| Miami | City of Miami: weekly curbside bulky pickup. Eligible County customers: 13 centers, no fee | $115.80/ton at County landfills, + $17.30/ton at transfer stations | City of Miami residents can't use the County centers |
| Gainesville | 5 Rural Collection Centers, no fee listed, 1 level truck bed a day | $65/ton at Leveda Brown | Neither takes construction debris |
| Ocala | Unincorporated: covered by the $215 assessment. City residents: $215 permit for the recycling centers | Baseline: $10 a car, $20 a truck flat, or $65/ton | For a one-off load, city residents should use Baseline's flat rate |
| Tallahassee | Unincorporated Leon County: 1 free level-pickup load | City residents: no garbage or bulk at the County site (use Marpan) | Household hazardous waste and up to 4 tires are free for all county residents |
Bring proof of address: resident rates and free allowances almost always require it, and many sites charge outsiders more.
What Florida won't let you throw away
Pull these out before the junk goes to a landfill, whether you haul it or hire it out; a crew will charge extra to handle them:
| Item | Florida rule |
|---|---|
| Whole tires | Banned — FAC 62-701.300(8)(b) |
| Car batteries | Lead-acid banned |
| Appliances | Yes — banned |
| TVs and computers | No |
Paint, chemicals and other household hazardous waste go to a county drop-off, usually free for residents.
When hiring junk removal is worth it
Hire a crew for heavy furniture, appliances, stairs, several loads, or a cleanout on a deadline. You pay for the crew's labor and the space your junk takes in their truck; their disposal cost is the same landfill rate shown above, so a small load you could fit in a pickup is usually cheaper to haul yourself.
Moving out? Start four weeks ahead: bulky pickups and hazardous waste drop-offs often run on limited schedules. Our moving cleanout guide has the week-by-week plan.
For every Florida landfill, transfer station and drop-off we cover, start from our Florida page, or see what it costs to dump in Florida.
Common questions
How much does junk removal cost in Florida?
Does Florida have free bulk trash pickup?
What can't junk removal take in Florida?
Hours, fees and rules change. Always call the facility to confirm before you load up. Sources: what it costs to dump in Florida; our Florida city pages; moving cleanout guide.