Junk removal in Golden Glades when the county's bulky pickups run out

01

How the county's bulky appointments work in Golden Glades

Golden Glades is unincorporated county land. Voters rejected a petition to incorporate in November 2021, and the area is bordered by four cities: Miami Gardens, North Miami Beach, North Miami and Opa-locka. None of their trash rules apply here. The Miami-Dade Department of Solid Waste Management (DSWM) collects, with garbage twice a week in the green cart and recycling every other week.

For furniture and other big items, every household gets two scheduled bulky pickups per calendar year of up to 25 cubic yards each. You can combine them into one pickup of up to 50 cubic yards, but a pickup over 25 cubic yards uses up the full 50 for the year. Book through 311, miamidade.gov/bulkywaste or the county app. The calendar opens 30 days ahead, cancellations need two days' notice, and there are no waitlists or fit-ins. Duplex owners can combine up to four pickups into one of up to 100 cubic yards.

The pile goes out no more than 3 days before the appointment and must be at the curb by 7 a.m., within 10 feet of the street, with 15 feet of clearance up to the lowest branch or power line. Since April 1, 2023, an early pile can get a warning notice or a civil citation.

02

Late in the year, your pickups may already be used

Two pickups a year go fast. By the fall, many households may have used both, and the county's 2025 guide lists a fee of $31 per cubic yard for excess. The county also refuses some things at the curb no matter what: home chemicals, rock and dirt, any single item over 150 lbs, and more than three cubic yards of construction and demolition debris. Mattresses must be in a plastic bag, fridge and freezer doors must come off, and only up to three cubic yards of wooden fence is allowed.

That is when Dany gets the call. A pile that missed its appointment, a heavy item the county will not lift, or a move-out that cannot wait 30 days. Furniture removal starts at $125 and appliance removal at $100. He loads from the curb, the garage or inside the house, and the pile is gone the same day.

or call (754) 249-1015

03

Remodel debris and Miami-Dade permits

Permits for Golden Glades come from Miami-Dade County Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER), Building, not from any of the neighboring cities. The county's online process is only for folios that start with 30, which covers unincorporated land like this. Residential demolition of a detached structure uses Category 15 on the Building Permit Application, and demolition attached to the house uses Category 02 with drawings showing the electrical and plumbing connections to be removed. Once issued, you have 180 days to finish and call for inspections.

The county notes that a permit does not authorize work that breaks an association's rules, so HOA approval is a separate step. The application office is the Herbert S. Saffir Permitting and Inspection Center, 11805 SW 26th Street (Coral Way), (786) 315-2000.

The GC or the property owner pulls the permit. Rapid Haul does the non-structural tear-out and the haul. Carts cannot hold tile or construction debris, and both the curb and the county centers cap it, so a remodel usually needs a hauler. Construction debris hauling starts at $200.

04

Drop-off options on the north side of the county

If you would rather haul it yourself, the county runs Trash and Recycling Centers open daily, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except holidays. They take household trash, yard cuttings, up to four tires and up to three cubic yards of construction and demolition debris. Bring a Florida driver license or ID that matches a DSWM fee-paying address, and leave the big trailer at home: trailers over 10 by 6 by 6 feet are turned away. North-side centers on the county list include:

• Golden Glades, 140 NW 160 St. (takes used motor oil and electronics)
• Norwood, 19901 NW 7 Ave. (no white goods)
• North Dade, 21500 NW 47 Ave.
• Palm Springs North, 7870 NW 178 St.

or call (754) 249-1015

05

Price and same-day service from Hollywood

The area is home to the Golden Glades Interchange, where the Turnpike, I-95, US 441, State Road 9 and the Palmetto Expressway meet, and it counted 10,072 households in 2020. Wikipedia notes the area was renamed Biscayne Gardens in 2023, though the Census still uses Golden Glades.

Rapid Haul is based in Hollywood, and this is regular Miami-Dade service area. Text a photo to (754) 249-1015 for one flat, all-in price covering labor, loading, hauling and disposal. Same-day is often possible when you call early, Monday to Saturday, 7 AM to 7 PM. Junk removal is paid after the job; jobs of $1,000 and over take a 50% deposit.