County officials and the Solid Waste Disposal District on May 6 presented a detailed timeline for a universal curbside collection program set to begin Oct. 1, 2025, for unincorporated Indian River County.

Under the plan, Waste Management (WM) will deliver new carts to residents: 65-gallon recycling carts (delivery June–July), 95-gallon yard-waste carts with brown bodies and orange lids (delivery in August but not to be used until Oct. 1), and 95-gallon gray trash carts for single-family homes. The county said current subscription customers may start using newly delivered carts immediately, but residents who are not currently subscribed must wait until Oct. 1 to use the trash carts.

Officials estimated the annual cost will be billed as a non-ad valorem assessment on the November tax bill and provided a planning figure of about $182 per household per year. The county explained it will prepay Waste Management for October service and then include the assessed amount on the November tax bill; owners of new homes that received certificates of occupancy after Jan. 1, 2025, will be handled separately by the tax collector.

Service will include once-weekly collection for trash, recycling and yard waste, with up to four bulk items collected the same day. Cart-size options will be adjustable after a 30-day trial: trash cart sizes may be reduced to 65 or 35 gallons, and recycling carts may be exchanged up to 95 gallons or down to 35 gallons beginning Jan. 2, 2026. The yard waste cart will remain a single 95-gallon size.

The county is also implementing standardized cart labeling developed in partnership with Recycle Across America; labels include QR codes linking to the county website. Officials said they plan broad outreach — radio spots, postcards and HOA briefings — and a local WM call center to manage questions.

Solid Waste staff estimated tens of thousands of carts will be delivered (the presentation referred to 50,000–60,000 units) and said they had not tapped program contingency funds as of the May update. Residents with questions were directed to IndianRiver.gov or (772) 569-1776.

The presentation received questions about billing timing and operational details; staff said they would work with the tax collector on accounts for new certificates of occupancy and return with additional implementation details as needed.