The Solid Waste Department is entrusted with the task of providing solid waste and recycling services to all Hialeah residents. It is currently staffed by approximately 130 employees, who accomplish all activities in the department (i.e. collections, disposal, administrative duties, enforcement, and clerical responsibilities. It is our responsibility to collect and properly dispose of all garbage and trash that is generated by our residential customers. We do this by providing the most service oriented yet cost effective program to our users!

Present services provided to residents included the collection of garbage twice per week; bulk trash once per month; and recycling once per week. There is no limit to the amount of waste one may put out for collection, and our crews collect everything but construction debris.

All solid waste collected, is disposed of at Dade County facilities; while all yard waste is brought in for processing and converted into mulch – a useful ground cover used in the control of weeds around shrubs and trees. This mulch is gladly given away "free" to our residents, other municipalities, and private landscapers. All items of recycling collected are sold under contract, to private recycling concerns, which offsets the cost of this service. Aside from recycling every tree into mulch; we also recycle every old appliance as well as any scrap metal that our residents discard.

To aid in the cleanliness of our commercial and warehouse areas, bulk trash crews clean all commercial areas once per month while performing their normal collection activities, in an attempt to clear all debris illegally dumped at roadside and swale in our commercial zones. We also offer commercial waste service to those small businesses that do not generate sufficient quantities of waste to warrant utilizing private dumpster service. Two commercial crews provide either twice weekly or daily collection service to our businesses and the cost of this service is very reasonable.

The Department handles approximately 95,000 tons of solid waste on a yearly basis in the manners above described. We also handle all waste billing adjustments, code enforcement’s relating to sanitation issues and the installation of "No Dumping" signs where justified – citywide. Our other areas of responsibility include the clearing of debris, which is illegally dumped on city property. We, also, oversee the private waste haulers who operate within our city to assure their compliance with our local sanitary codes.

Our complaint lines are available to you for questions: (305) 687-2625 and (305) 687-2630, or if you would like further information. Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M.