How to Get Rid of Junk Yourself in Lee County

Start with who collects at your address

Lee County has six cities, towns and villages: Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Estero, Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel. Everywhere else is unincorporated Lee County. A Fort Myers mailing address doesn’t tell you which one serves you, so check before you put anything at the curb.

Lee County publishes a “Your Garbage Company by Zip Code” table. Some ZIP codes list two collectors, for example the county’s hauler and the City of Fort Myers, so use the city or county pickup-day lookup for your exact address.

If you live in a building or community of five or more units (apartments, condos, mobile home parks), Lee County says your property management will tell you what collection is provided on the property.

Sources: Lee County: Local Municipalities (checked 2026-10-02); Lee County Solid Waste: Your Garbage Company by Zip Code (checked 2026-10-02); Lee County Solid Waste: Multi-Family (checked 2026-10-02)

Curbside bulk pickup compared, by jurisdiction

What each Lee County collection program takes at the curb, its limits, and who to call. Each row links to the full guide with the official sources. Checked October 13, 2026.

Unincorporated Lee County

Lee County Solid Waste runs residential collection through franchised haulers. The county lists once-a-week curbside collection of garbage, recycling and yard waste, plus pickup of large, bulky items such as furniture and household appliances “available as needed.”

Bulky items go at the curb next to your regular garbage. The county’s examples include couches, sectionals, hot tubs, mattresses and fence sections. If an item won’t fit in the regular truck, the county says your hauler will notify the home office and a separate truck will come out within three business days.

To report something left at the curb, or to request a special pickup of an appliance placed at the curb, call the franchised garbage company for your area.

The full Unincorporated Lee County trash, bulk and yard pickup guide covers schedules, limits and exclusions.

Sources: Lee County Solid Waste: Curbside Services (checked 2026-10-02); Lee County Solid Waste: How Do I Dispose of Bulky Items? (checked 2026-10-02); Lee County Solid Waste: Missed Pick Ups / Special Pick Ups (checked 2026-10-02); Lee County Solid Waste: Your Garbage Company by Zip Code (checked 2026-10-02)

City of Fort Myers

The City of Fort Myers runs its own Solid Waste Division. For city residents it lists bulk pickup once a week, “not to exceed 4 cubic yards of large household items i.e. furniture, mattresses etc.”, white-goods pickup once a week (stove, refrigerator, washer and dryer), with junk and brush kept separate, and yard-trimmings pickup once a week, up to 10 cubic yards.

Your bulk and yard day may not be your garbage day. The city’s Schedules and Routes page lists the bulk and yard days by area and links a pickup-day map.

The full Fort Myers trash, bulk and yard pickup guide covers schedules, limits and exclusions.

Sources: City of Fort Myers: Solid Waste FAQs (checked 2026-10-02); City of Fort Myers: Schedules and Routes (checked 2026-10-02)

Cape Coral

Cape Coral runs its own collection program, and Waste Pro does the curbside collection. Bulk waste is collected on the same day as garbage, recycling and yard waste. The city’s rules: don’t stack bulk items, and place everything within 3 feet of the road. Items the city won’t take at the curb include any single item over 150 pounds, whole hot tubs (a hot tub must be cut up so one person can handle the pieces), construction and demolition debris, and contractor-generated waste. “Move-outs” aren’t part of normal bulk pickup. They must be scheduled, and the city notes “A fee may be imposed.”

Cape Coral also runs a bulk waste drop-off site for residents on the west side of the North Cape Government Complex (1200 Kismet Parkway; the entrance is off NW 14th Avenue). It is open Tuesday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., except on six listed holidays. Businesses can’t use it, and it doesn’t take construction debris (even from residents), household chemicals or recycling.

The full Cape Coral trash, bulk and yard pickup guide covers schedules, limits and exclusions.

Sources: City of Cape Coral: Bulk Waste (checked 2026-10-02); City of Cape Coral: Bulk Waste Drop-Off Site for Residents (checked 2026-10-02); City of Cape Coral: Trash, Yard Waste and Recycling FAQs (checked 2026-10-02); Lee County Solid Waste: Your Garbage Company by Zip Code (checked 2026-10-02)

Bonita Springs

Bonita Springs is part of Lee County’s residential collection system: the county’s rate page lists it in Service Area 1. The county’s ZIP-code table lists Waste Management as the collector for 34134 and 34135. The county’s bulky-item and appliance rules for its service areas are under “Unincorporated Lee County” above. Confirm the details for your street with your hauler.

The full Bonita Springs trash, bulk and yard pickup guide covers schedules, limits and exclusions.

Sources: Lee County Solid Waste: Adopted Solid Waste Rates (service areas) (checked 2026-10-02); Lee County Solid Waste: Your Garbage Company by Zip Code (checked 2026-10-02); Lee County Solid Waste: How Do I Dispose of Bulky Items? (checked 2026-10-02)

Fort Myers Beach

The Town of Fort Myers Beach says trash collection services are provided by Waste Management, and it directs questions about pickups and holidays to Waste Management. Fort Myers Beach is also on Lee County’s list of residential service areas. The Town’s yard-waste guide says wood fencing can go at the curb with regular garbage, up to 2 yards a week, stacked neatly. For chain-link fencing, call the hauler for a special pickup, with the concrete removed from the bottom of the poles.

The full Fort Myers Beach trash, bulk and yard pickup guide covers schedules, limits and exclusions.

Sources: Town of Fort Myers Beach: Public Works (checked 2026-10-02); Lee County Solid Waste: Adopted Solid Waste Rates (service areas) (checked 2026-10-02)

Sanibel

Sanibel contracts household collection with WM (Waste Management). Bulky items such as sofas, chairs and mattresses are picked up with regular garbage collection. Large appliances need special handling: residents schedule a bulk-item pickup directly with WM. Sanibel says refrigerator and freezer doors must remain attached. Lee County’s own appliance page asks for the opposite (doors removed or taped shut), so follow the rule for the place you live.

For small repair jobs that didn’t need a permit, WM will collect up to 2 cubic yards of construction debris per pickup per home. Debris from a permitted project, or more than 2 cubic yards, has to go through WM, a private hauler or a roll-off service (we rent roll-off dumpsters).

The full Sanibel trash, bulk and yard pickup guide covers schedules, limits and exclusions.

Sources: City of Sanibel: How to Process Garbage (checked 2026-10-02); Lee County Solid Waste: How Do I Dispose of Appliances? (checked 2026-10-02)

Estero

The Village of Estero says garbage, recycling and yard waste are handled by Lee County Solid Waste. Estero is also listed in the county’s residential service areas, so the county rules under “Unincorporated Lee County” apply.

The full Estero trash, bulk and yard pickup guide covers schedules, limits and exclusions.

Sources: Village of Estero: Hazardous Waste Disposal (checked 2026-10-02); Lee County Solid Waste: Adopted Solid Waste Rates (service areas) (checked 2026-10-02)

Furniture and other bulky items

County service areas (unincorporated Lee, Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers Beach): put bulky items at the curb next to your regular garbage. If an item won’t fit in the regular truck, a separate truck comes within three business days.

City of Fort Myers: bulk pickup once a week, up to 4 cubic yards.

Cape Coral: bulk goes out on your regular collection day, within 3 feet of the road and not stacked, with nothing over 150 pounds. Residents can also use the Kismet Parkway drop-off site.

Sanibel: bulky items go out with your regular garbage collection.

Lee County also runs a Reuse Center at its Topaz Court facility. It gives residents leftover latex paint and household chemicals at no charge, with a limit of 10 items per visit. It doesn’t take furniture.

Sources: Lee County Solid Waste: How Do I Dispose of Bulky Items? (checked 2026-10-02); City of Fort Myers: Solid Waste FAQs (checked 2026-10-02); City of Cape Coral: Bulk Waste (checked 2026-10-02); City of Cape Coral: Bulk Waste Drop-Off Site for Residents (checked 2026-10-02); City of Sanibel: How to Process Garbage (checked 2026-10-02); Lee County Solid Waste: Reuse Center (checked 2026-10-02)

Appliances with refrigerant (white goods)

County service areas: set large appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers, ovens, dishwashers) at the curb on your regular collection day. The county says your hauler will tag the item and send a truck within three business days after your regular collection day. “For safety reasons,” remove the doors from refrigerators, freezers, washers and dryers, or seal them with heavy packing tape.

City of Fort Myers: white-goods pickup once a week. Keep junk and brush separate.

Cape Coral: the city notes that the store you buy an appliance from typically offers free removal. If it doesn’t, schedule a special white-goods pickup with Waste Pro, which the city says is at no charge. The resident drop-off site accepts household appliances. Central air units aren’t accepted as curbside white goods.

Sanibel: schedule a bulk-item pickup directly with WM, and leave refrigerator and freezer doors attached.

Sources: Lee County Solid Waste: How Do I Dispose of Appliances? (checked 2026-10-02); City of Fort Myers: Solid Waste FAQs (checked 2026-10-02); City of Cape Coral: Trash, Yard Waste and Recycling FAQs (checked 2026-10-02); City of Cape Coral: Bulk Waste (checked 2026-10-02); City of Cape Coral: Bulk Waste Drop-Off Site for Residents (checked 2026-10-02); City of Sanibel: How to Process Garbage (checked 2026-10-02)

Electronics

Lee County’s electronics recycling program takes computers, printers and copiers, scanners, and televisions and monitors. In county service areas you can put them at the curb next to, but separate from, your regular garbage, or take them to the Topaz Court facility. The county doesn’t recycle wires and cables, keyboards and mice, remotes, modems and routers, microwaves and toaster ovens, corded vacuums, solar panels or satellite dishes through this program. Those go in regular household garbage. Erase your personal data before you recycle a device.

City of Fort Myers: the city’s pages give two different instructions. The Recycling page says a special pickup has to be scheduled for electronics. The Solid Waste FAQ says the city doesn’t collect electronics and sends residents to Lee County. Call the city’s Solid Waste Division before you put electronics out.

Sanibel: WM either collects electronic items or tags them, and tagged items are collected within 24 hours of your regular pickup.

Sources: Lee County Solid Waste: Topaz Court Household Chemical Waste and Electronics Facility (checked 2026-10-02); Lee County Solid Waste: How Do I Dispose of Appliances? (checked 2026-10-02); City of Fort Myers: Recycling (checked 2026-10-02); City of Fort Myers: Solid Waste FAQs (checked 2026-10-02); City of Sanibel: How to Process Garbage (checked 2026-10-02)

Household chemicals and hazardous waste

Lee County takes residents’ household chemical waste at the Topaz Court Solid Waste Facility, 6441 Topaz Court, Fort Myers (east of Metro Parkway). Published hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, and 8 a.m. to noon on the first Saturday of the month. The county says the Saturday schedule is subject to change on holiday weekends, and the facility shuts down temporarily during thunderstorms. Drop-off is drive-through and costs residents nothing.

Examples the county accepts include paint and paint thinner, pesticides, pool and spa chemicals, propane tanks, fluorescent and compact fluorescent bulbs, rechargeable batteries, motor oil, gasoline and fire extinguishers. Never put household chemicals in a dumpster, at the curb or in your garbage. The county doesn’t collect medicines; ask your pharmacy or the Sheriff’s office about a drop-off location.

Lee County also holds mobile household-chemical collection events around the county, and Sanibel lists its own event dates. Check the events pages for current dates. Business chemical waste is a separate, arranged program, not the resident drop-off.

Sources: Lee County Solid Waste: Topaz Court Household Chemical Waste and Electronics Facility (checked 2026-10-02); Lee County Solid Waste: Household Chemical Waste (checked 2026-10-02); Lee County Solid Waste: How Do I Dispose of Chemicals? (checked 2026-10-02); Lee County Solid Waste: Household Chemical Waste Collection Events (checked 2026-10-02); City of Sanibel: Household Hazardous Waste Collection (checked 2026-10-02)

Tires

County service areas: curbside collection of up to two car tires a week. The county says larger tires must be taken to its Buckingham facility.

Cape Coral: automotive wheels, and tires off the rim, are accepted as bulk waste. Commercial truck tires aren’t.

Florida law: the Department of Environmental Protection says anyone moving more than 25 waste tires on Florida roads must be registered with DEP as a waste tire collector.

Sources: Lee County Solid Waste: Curbside Services (checked 2026-10-02); City of Cape Coral: Bulk Waste (checked 2026-10-02); Florida DEP: Registered Waste Tire Collectors (checked 2026-10-02)

Mattresses

Mattresses are bulky items everywhere in this guide. Lee County lists them among the bulky items you can put at the curb next to your regular garbage. The City of Fort Myers includes them in its weekly bulk pickup (up to 4 cubic yards). Cape Coral lists mattresses and box springs as acceptable bulk waste. Sanibel picks them up with regular garbage collection.

Sources: Lee County Solid Waste: How Do I Dispose of Bulky Items? (checked 2026-10-02); City of Fort Myers: Solid Waste FAQs (checked 2026-10-02); City of Cape Coral: Bulk Waste (checked 2026-10-02); City of Sanibel: How to Process Garbage (checked 2026-10-02)

Yard waste

County service areas: one curbside yard-waste collection each week. Put yard waste in a container of 50 pounds or less, or tie it securely into bundles no heavier than 50 pounds and no longer than 6 feet. Up to 50 pounds of unbundled palm fronds can go at the curb. The county asks you not to bag yard waste, because it’s shredded for mulch. Fencing and ornamental wood borders aren’t yard waste; they go in regular household garbage. For a large yard project that’s hard to containerize or bundle, the county says to call your hauler for a cost estimate.

City of Fort Myers: yard trimmings are picked up once a week, up to 10 cubic yards.

Cape Coral: tree limbs larger than 4 inches across or longer than 6 feet, stumps, root balls and logs aren’t accepted as curbside bulk waste.

Sources: Lee County Solid Waste: Yard Waste (checked 2026-10-02); City of Fort Myers: Solid Waste FAQs (checked 2026-10-02); City of Cape Coral: Bulk Waste (checked 2026-10-02)

Construction debris you haul yourself

Lee County facilities don’t accept garbage or debris generated outside Lee County. The county’s Resource Recovery Facility in Buckingham serves residential and commercial customers, has a residents’ drop-off area, and recycles construction and demolition debris. Read the facility’s site rules and hours before you go. The county says asphalt shingles are no longer accepted at Buckingham; take them to the Lee/Hendry landfill or an approved private construction-and-demolition facility.

If your project needs a building, demolition or similar county permit, Lee County Ordinance 07-25 may require you to divert part of the debris from the landfill and file a recycling certification. The county’s construction-debris page explains who it applies to.

Cape Coral’s resident drop-off site doesn’t take construction debris, and the city doesn’t keep a list of recommended construction-debris drop-off sites. In Sanibel, WM collects up to 2 cubic yards from small repairs that didn’t need a permit.

Sources: Lee County Solid Waste: Facilities (checked 2026-10-02); Lee County Solid Waste: Resource Recovery Facility (Buckingham) (checked 2026-10-02); Lee County Solid Waste: Construction and Demolition Debris Recycling (checked 2026-10-02); City of Cape Coral: Bulk Waste Drop-Off Site for Residents (checked 2026-10-02); City of Sanibel: How to Process Garbage (checked 2026-10-02)

When paid removal makes sense

Public collection may be the better option when it meets your need. Paid removal may help when carrying items out, a mixed load or arranging access is the issue, for example when items are still inside, in the backyard or upstairs, or don’t meet the curbside limits above.

Fort Myers Junk Removal takes almost anything a home, business or property needs gone, as long as it can legally and safely be loaded, hauled and delivered somewhere that will accept it, and the person asking has the right to get rid of it. If an appliance is connected to gas, electrical, refrigerant or hardwiring, a licensed professional disconnects it first; then we take it out and haul it away. Send photos of the items and where they are so we can review the job and price it.