Disposal Rules
Where Does Your Junk Actually Go? Inside South Florida Disposal in 2026
Updated August 2026 · By the All Out Rubbish crew
Most people never ask where the truck goes after it leaves. They should — because the answer is the clearest signal of whether a hauler is legitimate, and because a large share of what gets loaded never needs to reach a landfill.
First stop: donation
Usable furniture, appliances that still run, tools, and household goods go to Faith Farm Ministries in Boynton Beach or Habitat for Humanity ReStore locations across Palm Beach and Broward. Condition rules are strict — no stains, tears, odors, or missing parts. This costs you nothing and keeps volume out of the waste stream.
Second stop: metal and appliance recycling
Washers, dryers, water heaters, grills, bed frames, and scrap metal go to a scrap yard where steel, copper, and aluminum are recovered. Refrigerators, freezers, and AC units require EPA Section 608 refrigerant recovery first — that is federal law, with penalties above $44,000 per violation.
Third stop: e-waste
TVs, monitors, computers, printers, and batteries go to certified electronics recyclers. Old CRT tube TVs contain leaded glass and are banned from ordinary trash in Florida.
Fourth stop: the transfer station
What is left — broken furniture, mixed household waste, construction debris — goes to the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County or the equivalent permitted Broward facility. Palm Beach County runs one of the most advanced waste-to-energy operations in the country, so a meaningful share of that residual becomes electricity rather than buried volume.
How to verify your hauler
Ask one question: which permitted facility does my load go to? A legitimate operator names it immediately. An unlicensed cash hauler changes the subject — and if your load ends up in a vacant lot with your mail in it, the citation follows your name, not theirs.
Need help with this in Palm Beach or Broward?
All Out Rubbish does same-day pickups across South Florida. Flat-rate quotes by text in under 5 minutes.
FAQs
How much of a typical load gets diverted from the landfill?
On a normal household job, a meaningful share — donations, metal, and e-waste together often account for a third or more of the volume. Estate cleanouts divert the most because they contain the most usable furniture.
Can I get a donation receipt?
Ask before pickup. When items go to Faith Farm or ReStore we can request a receipt in your name for the tax deduction.
What do you refuse to take?
Hazardous waste: paint, solvents, gasoline, motor oil, pesticides, pool chemicals, propane tanks, asbestos, and medical waste. We will point you to the nearest Solid Waste Authority household hazardous drop-off.