Cardboard Recycling in Tampa, FL

Flattened cardboard goes in Tampa's curbside recycling cart or the public recycling drop-off station at the McKay Bay facility.

See all 4 options

Illustrative item photographKadarius Seegars / Unsplash

Checked October 26, 2026 · Call before you go · How we check

4 ways to get rid of a cardboard in Tampa

Tap an option to see the address, hours, cost and rules.

CurbCycle PickupPickup from your home · TampaNo haulingWe recycle it for youFrom $80.00
How it works
Book online, set out your cardboard and we’ll pick it up and recycle it for you. You see your price before you book and pay only after pickup.
Book a pickup →
Hillsborough County special curbside pickup for bulky itemsCounty service · Hillsborough CountyHillsborough County residents$30
How it works
Paid on-call curbside pickup of bulky items for Hillsborough County (unincorporated) solid waste customers: $30 or $50 per item depending on the item. Call Solid Waste Customer Service at (813) 272-5680 before setting items out.
Cost & rules
Fees
Cardboard boxes (20 boxes = 1 item) $30
- Call (813) 272-5680 to schedule before putting items at the curb.
Official page (opens in new tab)
Tampa recycling drop-off station (McKay Bay)City service · TampaOpen to everyoneCost not listed
How it works
Self-service recycling drop-off containers at the McKay Bay Waste Management Resource Facility (114 South 34th Street, Tampa, FL 33605), open to the public: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 7:00 am-5:30 pm; Wednesday and Saturday 7:00 am-3:30 pm. Items loose, cardboard flattened.
Cost & rules
- Before you go: Fold and flatten all cardboard and place it inside the container; no bags.
Official page (opens in new tab)
Tampa curbside recycling (green cart)City service · TampaTampa residentsCost not listed
How it works
City of Tampa residential recycling cart collection. Accepted items per the city recycling poster include paper, paperboard, cardboard, plastic bottles and jugs, metal cans and glass bottles and jars; items loose, not bagged.
Cost & rules
- Before you go: Clean and dry; no greasy pizza boxes; items loose in the cart.
Official page (opens in new tab)

Fees
Cardboard boxes (20 boxes = 1 item)	$30

Before you go

Check whether you have corrugated boxes, coated packaging or mixed materials.
Remove foam, plastic and other packing inserts.
Flatten boxes and check quantity limits for your program.

More about cardboard

Florida rules

Counties are responsible for providing solid waste disposal facilities for all incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county. Source: Florida Statutes 403.706: Local government solid waste responsibilities (opens in new tab)
Every Florida county has a program that collects household hazardous waste for recycling or proper disposal. Source: Florida DEP: Waste Reduction (opens in new tab)

More Florida rules (7)

County HHW programs include permanent collection facilities, collection events (regular or once or twice a year) and a few curbside collections. Source: Florida DEP: Household Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab)
DEP tells residents to check their county or city HHW program website for advice and collection schedules. Source: Florida DEP: Household Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab)
Hazardous waste generated in the home is not regulated by the government. Source: Florida DEP: Household Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab)
State-grant-funded local collection centers are intended to collect non-regulated household hazardous waste free. Source: Florida DEP: Household Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab)
State law authorizes HHW "amnesty days", free for participants bringing under 100 pounds, until legislative funds for them are exhausted; local governments must host them. Source: Florida Statutes 403.7264: Amnesty days for purging small quantities of hazardous wastes (opens in new tab)
A 2008 state law set a statewide weight-based recycling goal of 75% by 2020, with no sunset after 2020. Source: Florida DEP: Recycling (opens in new tab)
DEP directs residents to their county recycling coordinators. Source: Florida DEP: Recycling (opens in new tab)

Where this information comes from (17)

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

Special Curbside Pickup for Bulky Items (opens in new tab) · Hillsborough County Solid Waste Services
- $30 per item: any size mattress, bed frame and box springs, cardboard boxes (20 boxes = 1 item), furniture (chairs, chest, couch, desk, dressers, tables). Checked October 26, 2026.
- Call Solid Waste Customer Service at (813) 272-5680 to schedule; request before placing items at the curb. Checked October 26, 2026.
Tampa & Temple Terrace Disposal (opens in new tab) · Hillsborough County Solid Waste Services
- County residential customers pay solid waste assessments on their property tax bill; city residential customers pay their city on a utility bill. Checked October 26, 2026.
Recycling Drop-Off Station (opens in new tab) · City of Tampa Solid Waste & Environmental Program Management
- Recycling Drop-Off Station at the McKay Bay facility: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 7:00am-5:30pm; Wed and Sat 7:00am-3:30pm; Sunday closed; self-service. Checked October 26, 2026.
- All cardboard must be folded and flattened and placed inside the container; recyclables loose, not bagged. Checked October 26, 2026.
Recycling FAQs (opens in new tab) · City of Tampa Solid Waste & Environmental Program Management
- The drop-off container is accessible to the public; items must be loose and cardboard flattened. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Pizza boxes and other cardboard soiled with food residue are not accepted. Checked October 26, 2026.
Recycling poster (Recycle These Items) (opens in new tab) · City of Tampa Solid Waste & Environmental Program Management
- The city recycling poster lists cardboard among items to recycle in the green cart. Checked October 26, 2026.
Florida Statutes 403.706: Local government solid waste responsibilities (opens in new tab) · The Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine)
- Counties are responsible for providing solid waste disposal facilities for all incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county. Checked October 26, 2026.
Florida DEP: Waste Reduction (opens in new tab) · Florida Department of Environmental Protection
- Every Florida county has a program that collects household hazardous waste for recycling or proper disposal. Checked October 26, 2026.
Florida DEP: Household Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab) · Florida Department of Environmental Protection
- County HHW programs include permanent collection facilities, collection events (regular or once or twice a year) and a few curbside collections. Checked October 26, 2026.
- DEP tells residents to check their county or city HHW program website for advice and collection schedules. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Hazardous waste generated in the home is not regulated by the government. Checked October 26, 2026.
- State-grant-funded local collection centers are intended to collect non-regulated household hazardous waste free. Checked October 26, 2026.
Florida Statutes 403.7264: Amnesty days for purging small quantities of hazardous wastes (opens in new tab) · The Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine)
- State law authorizes HHW "amnesty days", free for participants bringing under 100 pounds, until legislative funds for them are exhausted; local governments must host them. Checked October 26, 2026.
Florida DEP: Recycling (opens in new tab) · Florida Department of Environmental Protection
- A 2008 state law set a statewide weight-based recycling goal of 75% by 2020, with no sunset after 2020. Checked October 26, 2026.
- DEP directs residents to their county recycling coordinators. Checked October 26, 2026.

“Checked” means we read the official page on that date. Things can change, so call before you go.

How we check our information