Fort Walton Beach rolls out new trash schedule with twice-a-week household pickups
Fort Walton Beach, Florida – Fort Walton Beach residents are about to see a noticeable change at the curb. Beginning Oct. 5, the city will double the number of weekly household trash pickups, giving customers another collection day without changing the frequency of recycling or yard waste service.
The shift creates what the city is calling its “2-1-1 Service” — two trash collections, one recycling collection and one yard waste pickup each week. For residents used to planning around a single garbage day, the new system adds a second opportunity to clear full containers before the next week begins.
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The City of Fort Walton Beach’s Sanitation Division will launch the twice-per-week residential trash schedule on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026.
Residents whose regular trash day is Monday will have garbage collected on both Monday and Thursday. Customers currently scheduled for Tuesday trash pickup will move to a Tuesday-and-Friday schedule.
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Recycling will remain once per week, although some customers may see a change in the day their recycling is collected. Under the new routing system, trash and recycling could also be picked up on the same day at some homes.
The city has published an updated curbside recycling route and schedule that will also take effect Oct. 5. Residents are encouraged to review the new schedule before the change begins.
Yard waste service is not changing. Residential yard waste will continue to be collected on the same regularly scheduled day. The city asks customers to place yard debris at the curb while keeping it well clear of mailboxes, above-ground utility boxes and other obstructions.
Container placement rules will remain important as the city adds the second trash collection day. Residents should place trash and recycling containers at the curb the night before collection and remove them from the street no later than 7 p.m. on pickup day.
The city also asks customers to leave at least four feet between containers and between containers and nearby objects such as trees, mailboxes, light poles and above-ground utilities. That spacing helps sanitation crews collect material properly and reduces the chance of equipment being blocked.
For Fort Walton Beach households, the biggest change is straightforward: trash that once waited a full week for pickup will now have another collection window just a few days later.
Additional details about residential sanitation service are available at fwb.org/sanitation. Residents may also contact the Sanitation Division at 850-833-9655.
