Junk removal in Palm Beach for estate cleanouts and seasonal homes

01

The Town's bulk service is paid and by appointment

This is the Town of Palm Beach on the barrier island, not West Palm Beach across the water. The Town runs its own sanitation through the Public Works Department. Single-family homes get garbage service five days a week, Monday to Friday (four garbage days, one recycling day), and every bag goes in a watertight container of 50 gallons or less.

There is no free weekly bulk day. Appliances, furniture, packing crates and other large items go through the Town's Special Collection Service, which runs on Fridays, by advance appointment only, and a fee applies. You book it with Public Works at 561-838-5440. Bulk cannot go in the garbage containers or out in the street with yard trash.

For one chair, that works. For an estate with a house full of furniture, waiting for Friday appointments is slow. A private haul empties the house in one visit.

02

Yard trash rules and the roads you can't use

The Town's Trash Bureau collects vegetation from trimming and pruning only. Trimmings must be no longer than 8 feet and no wider than 6 inches, piles cannot stick out more than 6 feet into the street, and no yard trash goes in plastic bags. Stumps and logs are the owner's job to dispose of.

Timing is strict. Under Town Code, yard trash goes out one day ahead from November 1 to April 30, and three days ahead from May 1 to October 31. Out-of-schedule piles can bring a fine for the owner, the landscape company, or both. Yard trash is not allowed on the state roads at all: Royal Poinciana Way, Royal Palm Way, S. County Road, Southern Boulevard and S. Ocean Boulevard below the S. County Road intersection.

or call (754) 249-1015

03

Tear-outs, the Town's permit office and landmarks

Demolition here goes through the Town's own Planning, Zoning & Building Department (561-838-5431), not the county. Its Permits and Licenses page has a Demolition Information section with a checklist, deadlines and conditions of approval, and a self-service permitting portal.

Palm Beach created a Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1979, and Addison Mizner designed 67 structures here between 1919 and 1924. Check a property's landmark status before planning any tear-out.

The GC or the property owner pulls the permit. Rapid Haul does non-structural tear-out only (kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, drywall) and hauls the debris. The Town does not publish curbside rules for construction debris, so plan on a separate haul for any remodel.

04

Estates, seasonal homes and an island that is built out

Census figures show 83.7% owner-occupancy, a median owner-occupied value of $2,000,000 or more, and 63.5% of residents aged 65 and over. Of 9,256 housing units in 2020, 4,205 were counted vacant, largely seasonal, and the population swells to around 25,000 in the November to April season. The town is essentially built out.

So the jobs here are estate cleanouts when a home changes hands, furniture swapped out between seasons, and remodel debris from interior renovations. Areas on the island include Worth Avenue and Via Mizner, the Royal Poinciana Way and Phipps Plaza historic districts, Midtown Beach and Blossom Estate.

If you manage a seasonal home from out of town, send photos of each room and Dany will price it as one job. Estate cleanouts are priced from photos or a quick look.

or call (754) 249-1015

05

How Palm Beach jobs are priced and scheduled

Rapid Haul is based in Hollywood. Broward and Miami-Dade are the main service area, and Palm Beach County is by request, when the job is worth the drive. A full house cleanout (from $1,000) usually is. Estate cleanouts get a flat price after photos. Dany does not promise same-day here; he gives you a date when he quotes.

Text photos to (754) 249-1015. You get one flat, all-in price covering labor, loading, hauling and disposal. Junk removal is paid after the job. Jobs of $1,000 and over, mostly demolition, take a 50% deposit.

Household chemicals go to Solid Waste Authority home chemical centers, free for county households, such as the Central County Transfer Station on Lantana Road or the center at 6161 N Jog Road. There is no curbside pickup for them.