Big Bin Advantage Brings New Rolling Carts and Weekly Collection to Unincorporated Manatee County

Beginning October 6, residents in unincorporated Manatee County will see a change in their garbage collection routine as the County launches its new Big Bin Advantage program. The initiative replaces smaller residential garbage cans with a free, County-provided, 96-gallon rolling bin designed for use with automated collection trucks.

Along with the new bins, trash, recycling, and yard waste will now be collected on the same day each week, simplifying pickup schedules and reducing the number of collection days from two to one. County officials say the change will help keep rates low, with no increase for residents, while improving safety for sanitation workers and reducing truck traffic in neighborhoods.

Residents may keep their old garbage cans for yard waste or request removal by placing a note on the container that says, “Please Remove.”

Earlier this month, a media focus group, dubbed the “Big Bin Beta Brigade,” tested the new system ahead of its rollout. Participants included journalists from ABC7, The Bradenton Times, 92.1 CTQ, and The East County Observer. They reported on their experiences with the new bins, discussing storage, odor control, and overall convenience.

Despite high summer temperatures, the testers found the bins remained clean and odor-free, according to reports from the focus group.

For more information about pickup schedules, bin use, and program details, residents can visit www.mymanatee.org/BigBin.