Scrap Metal Recycling in Tampa, FL

Tampa's recycling cart does not take scrap metal; the city says to put it in the trash cart, where metals are recovered at the waste-to-energy facility, or sell large quantities to a private metal recycler.

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

4 ways to get rid of a scrap metal in Tampa

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

CurbCycle PickupPickup from your home · TampaNo haulingWe recycle it for youFrom $90.00
How it works
Book online, set out your scrap metal 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 Southeast County LandfillCounty service · Hillsborough CountyCost not listed
How it works
County landfill at 15960 County Road 672, Lithia, FL 33547 (Census: unincorporated Hillsborough County), Monday-Saturday 7:30 AM-5 PM; no hand unloading after 4:30 PM. Takes non-burnable waste such as broken furniture, scrap metal including appliances, and tires, for posted disposal fees.
Official page (opens in new tab)
Hillsborough County Community Collection Centers (CCC)County service · Hillsborough CountyHillsborough County residentsConditions applyCost not listed
How it works
Five county drop-off centers open Monday-Saturday 7:30 AM-5 PM: Alderman's Ford Solid Waste Facility (9402 County Road 39, Plant City, FL 33567; Census: unincorporated Hillsborough County, outside Plant City), Hillsborough Heights Solid Waste Facility (6209 County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584; Census: Thonotosassa CDP), Northwest County Solid Waste Facility (8001 W. Linebaugh Ave., Tampa, FL 33625; Census: Citrus Park CDP, outside Tampa city limits), South County Solid Waste Facility (13000 U.S. Highway 41, Gibsonton, FL 33534; Gibsonton CDP) and Wimauma Solid Waste Facility (16180 West Lake Drive, Wimauma, FL 33598; Wimauma CDP). Batteries, paint and electronics for any county resident with photo ID; bulky waste, appliances and tires only for county solid waste customers (photo ID plus property tax bill).
Cost & rules
- Listed at the South County, Hillsborough Heights, Northwest and Alderman's Ford centers. Non-electronic, non-battery drop-offs need a photo ID and property tax bill (county solid waste customers).
Official page (opens in new tab)
Tampa curbside garbage collection (metal recovery at the waste-to-energy facility)City service · TampaTampa residentsConditions applyCost not listed
How it works
City of Tampa residential garbage goes to the McKay Bay Waste-to-Energy Facility, which recovers metals. The city says scrap metal belongs in the trash cart, not the recycling cart.
Cost & rules
- Smaller scrap metal goes in the trash cart (metals are recovered at the waste-to-energy facility); large quantities may be sold to a private metal recycler.
Official page (opens in new tab)

Before you go

Ask whether items must be mostly metal and free of refrigerant, fuel or oil.
Check whether the operator pays for metal or charges a fee.

More about scrap metal

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 (21)

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

Community Collection Centers (CCC) (opens in new tab) · Hillsborough County Solid Waste Services
- Batteries, paint and electronics: any county resident with photo ID. Bulky waste and appliances: county solid waste customers only, with photo ID and a property tax bill. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Businesses are not authorized to use CCCs; closed-toe shoes required; photo ID only for batteries, paint and electronics. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Incorporated city residents who pay a city for waste disposal should use their city (Plant City, Temple Terrace, Tampa) for bulky waste, appliances and tires. Checked October 26, 2026.
South County Solid Waste Facility (opens in new tab) · Hillsborough County Solid Waste Services
- South County Solid Waste Facility (13000 U.S. Highway 41, Gibsonton 33534) accepts paint, electronics, batteries, appliances and bulk items, tires, general trash and scrap metal. Checked October 26, 2026.
Hillsborough Heights Solid Waste Facility (opens in new tab) · Hillsborough County Solid Waste Services
- Hillsborough Heights Solid Waste Facility (6209 County Road 579, Seffner 33584) accepts paint, electronics, batteries, appliances and bulk items, tires and scrap metal. Checked October 26, 2026.
Northwest County Solid Waste Facility (opens in new tab) · Hillsborough County Solid Waste Services
- Northwest County Solid Waste Facility, 8001 W. Linebaugh Ave., Tampa, FL 33625, Monday-Saturday 7:30 AM-5 PM; accepts appliances and bulk items, tires and scrap metal. Checked October 26, 2026.
Alderman's Ford Solid Waste Facility (opens in new tab) · Hillsborough County Solid Waste Services
- Alderman's Ford Solid Waste Facility, 9402 County Road 39, Plant City, FL 33567, Monday-Saturday 7:30 AM-5 PM, hand-unloading only; accepts appliances and bulk items, tires and scrap metal. Checked October 26, 2026.
Southeast County Landfill (opens in new tab) · Hillsborough County Solid Waste Services
- Southeast County Landfill, 15960 County Road 672, Lithia, FL 33547, Monday-Saturday 7:30 AM-5 PM. Checked October 26, 2026.
- The landfill accepts non-burnable solid waste such as broken furniture, scrap metal including appliances, and tires. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Commercial trash and tire disposal fees are on the county Fees webpage. Checked October 26, 2026.
Recycling FAQs (opens in new tab) · City of Tampa Solid Waste & Environmental Program Management
- Scrap metal is not accepted in the recycling program and should go in the trash cart; large quantities may be sold to a private metal recycler. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Metal placed in the trash goes to the Waste to Energy Facility, which recovers metals for recycling. 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.

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