Recycling And Waste Reduction

Recycling Cart and Family Recycling

The Recycling Division is responsible for ensuring that recyclable materials collected are recoverable and do not include contamination (the placing of items that cannot be recycled curbside, in the recycling bin).  To accomplish this, the division focuses on education, outreach, monitoring and constantly improving the Department's comprehensive recycling program.
Curbside Recycling Guidelines 

Containers & Non-Fiber      Fibers
  • Aluminum foil & pie tins
  • Aluminum cans & bottles
  • Plastic Bottles, Containers and Jugs
  • Tin Cans
  • Food and Beverage Cartons (e.g. milk, juice, soup broth, etc.) 
  • Glass Bottles and Jars 
  • Mixed paper
  • Corrugated cardboard*
  • Magazines/Catalogs
  • Newspapers (and inserts)
  • Paperboard (e.g. cereal boxes and soda boxes)
  • Phone books
  • Junk mail

*Cardboard: Please make sure that cardboard is flattened and cut down to fit in your green cart. If you have large quantities of cardboard, it may be dropped off, at no charge, at the McKay Bay Refuse-To-Energy Facility at 114 S. 34th Street, Tampa FL.

Recycling Drop Off Sites:

  • University of South Florida Recycling Center: 504 USF Sycamore Drive

Located on the Corner of Elm and Sycamore behind the SunDome.

Cardboard, newspaper, aluminum, plastic and glass recycling.

 

In-School and Public Education Program

Recycling Fun Facts

  • We throw away enough aluminum each year that we could rebuild our entire commercial air fleet every 3 months.
  • We throw away enough office paper each year to build a 12 foot high wall of paper from New York to Los Angeles.
  • We throw away enough plastic soda bottles each year to circle the earth four times.
  • We throw away enough motor oil each year to fill 120 supertankers.
  • We throw away 20 million tons of grass clippings, dead leaves and branches a year.
  • An average size family's yard waste can make about 300-400 pounds of finished compost (humus) a year!

Contacts:

Program Information:

Recycling Coordinator - Alita Kane  

(813) 348-1027

Fax: (813) 348-1156

Email: Alita.Kane@tampagov.net 

Recycling Specialist - Edgar Castro Tello  

(813) 348-6504

Fax: (813) 348-1156

Email: Edgar.CastroTello@tampagov.net 

Missed Pickups/Green Recycling Cart Requests:
Customer Service
(813) 274-8811
Extension 2