Seasonal & Cabin Garbage Pickup in the Brainerd Lakes Area
Whether your cabin is on Gull Lake, Cross Lake, Pelican Lake, or one of the hundreds of lakes in the Brainerd Lakes area, Pequot Lakes Sanitation makes it easy to set up and stop garbage service around your season. We’ve been serving seasonal residents across this region since 1982 — we understand that your trash schedule doesn’t run January through December.
How Seasonal Service Works
Setting up seasonal pickup is simple:
1. Call us at (218) 568-4630 or fill out the service request form on our Services page.
2. Tell us your service start date (when you’ll be arriving for the season) and your end date (when you’ll be closing up for the year).
3. We’ll arrange cart delivery before your first pickup day and cart pickup after your last one.
4. You’ll only be billed for the weeks you have active service.
That’s it. No long-term contracts, no hassle.
Prepaid Tag Service
Our most popular option for cabin owners. We set up your account with a start and end date each year. Your cart will be at your property when you arrive and picked up after the season. Billed for active service weeks only.
Standard Seasonal Service
If your cabin visits are unpredictable — some weekends you’re there, some you’re not — prepaid tags may be a better fit than weekly billing. Tags are sold in bundles of six or more. You only use a tag on weeks when you have trash to pick up. The rest of the time, no charge. Great for shoulder-season or occasional-use properties.
How it works: Tie a tag to the top bag in your cart so it hangs visibly from the lid. The driver will see it and empty the cart. No tag visible = no pickup.
Recycling at Your Cabin
If your cabin is in one of our recycling service areas — Pequot Lakes, Breezy Point, Cross Lake, or Nisswa — you can add curbside recycling to your seasonal service. We provide a 65-gallon single-sort cart. Toss all your recyclables in together; no sorting required. See our Recycling page for full guidelines on what’s accepted.
What About Roll-Off Dumpsters?
Opening up a cabin that’s been closed all winter? Doing a seasonal cleanout, dock work, or renovation? We also rent 10 and 15-yard roll-off dumpsters for one-time projects. Perfect for clearing out years of accumulated items or tackling a remodel. Call (218) 568-4630 to check availability and schedule a drop-off.
Service Areas for Seasonal Pickup
We serve seasonal and cabin properties throughout Crow Wing and Cass counties, including:
Pequot Lakes · Cross Lake · Breezy Point · East Gull Lake · Gull Lake · Nisswa · Manhattan Beach · Lakeshore · Emily · Fifty Lakes · Jenkins · Merrifield · Pine River · Ideal Corners
Not sure if we reach your lake or township? Call us — we’ll check your address and let you know right away.
Frequently Asked Questions — Seasonal Service
Can I set up seasonal service each spring without calling every year?
Absolutely. Once you’re in our system, we can set up recurring seasonal service on your preferred dates. Call us each spring to confirm your dates, or we can reach out to you.
What if I arrive early or stay late?
No problem. Call the office at (218) 568-4630 and we can adjust your start or end date. We’re flexible — just give us as much notice as possible.
What cart size should I get for a cabin?
Most cabin owners do well with the 65-gallon cart, which holds 5–6 standard kitchen bags. If you’re hosting larger groups regularly or doing a big cleanout at the start of the season, the 95-gallon may make more sense. We can also swap your cart size if your needs change.
Do I need to be home on pickup day?
No. Simply set your cart at the end of your driveway or road the evening before your scheduled pickup day. Our drivers run routes early in the morning, often before 7am. You don’t need to be present.