Waste Reduction & Recycling in Sarasota County
The state has set targets for each Florida county to achieve a 75% waste stream recycling rate. Sarasota County is working to achieve these rates through increased recycling efforts, waste collection, and educational programs. Sarasota County residents are provided with curbside garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection. It is important for residents to understand the collection process, correct items to put in their bins, and the dates of their household pick up. To do this, they can visit the Sarasota County Solid Waste page to learn more.
How to Recycle Right
Sarasota County has an automated, cart-based curbside collection system. Residents are provided with one large green cart for garbage and one blue cart for recyclables. The county uses a single-stream recycling collection system, so all accepted materials can go together in the blue cart—no sorting needed. To ensure successful recycling, place empty, clean, and dry items in the blue cart, including paper, cardboard, metal cans, glass bottles and jars, and select plastics #1–#7 (no #6 styrofoam). It is important to keep items loose (no bagging) and flatten cardboard to save space. Visit the Sarasota County Recycles page to learn more about collection process.
How to Properly Dispose of Yard Waste
Sarasota County collects residential yard waste weekly for residents. Yard waste includes grass clippings, leaves, shrub trimmings, palm fronds, small tree limbs, and branches. Items should be placed separately from garbage and recycling containers at the curb for collection. All yard waste materials must be placed in reusable containers or paper bags. Residential yard waste material must be less than 4 feet in length, weigh less than 40 pounds, and be 16” or less in diameter. Sarasota County does not pick up yard waste left in plastic bags. Visit the Sarasota County Leaf It Out page to learn more about the Yard Waste Collection process.
Consider Joining the Sarasota County Green Business Partnership
Sarasota County has one of the longest running green business partnership programs in the United States. Created in 2006 to educate businesses on environmental best practices and encourage increased waste diversion and recycling, the partnership is open to all businesses located within the county. Sarasota County has approximately 28,749 commercial businesses, all of whom are required to comply with county ordinances on mandatory landfill disposal and recycling. UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County provides education for businesses looking to operate in a more environmentally responsible manner by improving business operations, waste management, recycling, and energy and water consumption. Visit the Sarasota County Green Business Partnership page to learn more about the program.
Important website links:
Trash and Recycling: https://www.scgov.net/government/solid-waste/trash-and-recycling
Recycling: https://www.scgov.net/government/solid-waste/sarasota-county-recycles
Yard waste: https://www.scgov.net/government/solid-waste/leaf-it-out
Green Business Partnership: https://www.scgov.net/government/sustainability/green-business-partnership
Sarasota County How-To Guide for Residents
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