Holidays that may impact your residential collection:
Veterans Day, Monday, November 11, 2024
Monday customers for yard waste and trash will be collected
on the following Monday, November 18, 2024.
Furniture and Appliance collection for first Monday
customers will take place on Saturday, November 16, 2024.
No change to other collection days.
Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28, 2024
Thursday customers for yard waste and trash will be
collected on the following Thursday, December 5, 2024.
Furniture and Appliance collection for fourth Thursday
customers will take place on Saturday, November 29, 2024.
No change to other collection days.
Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25, 2024
Wednesday customers for yard waste and trash will be
collected on the following Wednesday, January 1, 2025.
Furniture and Appliance collection for fourth Wednesday
customers will take place on Saturday, December 28, 2024.
No change to other collection days.
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Trash Pick-up Day is Friday
between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Curbside Tips for Successful Pick-up in All Service Areas
- All
household waste, recyclable materials and routine yard waste should be
placed curbside either the night before or by 6 a.m. on your collection
day.
- Roll
cart, bundles, yard waste and bulk waste must be:
- Within
three feet of the curb or edge of the street
- At
least three feet from other fixed objects
Household Waste Collection
Automated Household Waste Collection
A special vehicle, equipped with a lifting mechanism,
reaches out to the roll cart, lifts and empties the container returning the
cart to its original position.
Residents receive a garbage roll cart for all household
trash, but that roll cart may be exchanged for a different size; 35, 65 or
95-gallon cart. To request a roll cart change, call (863) 284-4319.
If a resident is physically or medically unable to place
his/her roll cart(s) curbside for pick-up, Polk County Solid Waste does offer a
backdoor service. The service is available to those who complete the Back Door Service Application and meet all the
requirements. For more information, please call customer care at (863) 284-4319.
Guidelines for household waste collection:
- Place
all household waste inside your garbage roll cart
- Position
the garbage roll cart so the lid opens to the street
- No
other container may be used for household waste
- Garbage
roll cart must be within 3 feet of the curb or edge of the street
- Garbage
roll cart must be at least 3 feet from other fixed objects
- Too
much trash for your cart? Learn more about Bulk
Waste
To minimize litter in front of your home, make sure your
garbage roll cart lid is closed.
How do I get an additional roll cart for garbage?
- Complete
the lease application or visit the Solid Waste
Administrative Office. Each household may have one additional cart.
- Hand-deliver
your notarized application and payment to the Solid Waste Administrative
Office or mail your notarized application and check, payable to Polk BoCC,
to the administrative office:
- Solid
Waste Administrative Office
Attn: Additional Garbage Cart
10 Environmental Loop S.
Winter Haven, FL 33880
- Cost:
$67 One-time lease fee (non-refundable)
- Plus
$52.50 Annual Disposal Fee*
- Acceptable
form of payment: Cash, check and credit cards
- Make
checks payable to: Polk BoCC
* Disposal fees for the first year will be prorated based on
the month the cart is leased. You can view the prorated fee schedule below. All
fees must be paid prior to an additional cart being delivered as noted in the
lease application.
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Yard Waste Collection (Horticultural Trash)
Yard waste collection service is intended for the collection
of routine lawn and landscape maintenance. Routine yard waste is collected once
a week.
Guidelines for routine yard waste collection
- Yard
waste items must be:
- curbside
from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- within
3 feet of the curb or edge of the street
- at
least 3 feet from other fixed objects
- All
yard waste must be bagged, bundled or containerized for collection
- Up to
four containers will be collected per week
- Bundles,
bags or containers of yard waste should weigh less than 30 pounds each
- Branches
should be no more than three feet in length and no more than two inches in
diameter
Routine yard trash
Any vegetative matter resulting from residential property
lawn and landscaping maintenance including:
- Shrub
and tree trimmings
- Grass
clippings
- Palm
fronds
- Branches
Non-routine yard trash
Material placed curbside that does not meet the county
guidelines of routine yard trash will be tagged with a non-collection notice,
which serves to inform the resident that the material is non-conforming debris
and therefore cannot be collected. If a material is non-conforming, then
disposal is the responsibility of the resident. Routine yard trash does not
include:
- Whole
trees/tree trunks
- Stumps/logs
- Root
systems
- Land
clearing debris (i.e. rocks, bushes)
For a list of contract haulers to remove non-conforming
debris, contact the Solid Waste Division at (863)
284-4319.
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Furniture and Appliance Collection (Bulk Waste)
Furniture and Appliance collection, formerly known as bulk waste collection, is intended for those items that are too large to fit inside the garbage roll cart.
Guidelines for Furniture and Appliance Collection:
Items must be:
- Within three feet of the curb or edge of the street
- At least three feet from another fixed object
Furniture and appliance collection will take place once a month on a pre-set, scheduled day. Household items that were not structurally attached to the house are acceptable.
No construction debris or eviction/move-outs will be collected.
All items should be curbside by 6 a.m. on your collection day. Items not in compliance will not be collected; if they stay curbside, they may be subject to code enforcement violations.
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Unacceptable Trash Items
Do not place the following materials/items in your garbage
roll cart or at the curb. If any of these items are found in your cart or at
the curb, they will be tagged with an instructional notice and not serviced.
Call (863) 284-4319 for proper disposal information.
Trees or land clearing debris, e.g., rocks or large tree
remains including trunks, stumps or root systems regardless of how small they
have been cut. For more information, see guidelines for yard waste.
Cars
Boats
Tires
Automobile parts
Engines
Asbestos
Radioactive materials
Explosives, including propane cylinders
Biomedical waste, including sharps/syringes used for medical
purposes
Household Hazardous Wastes, such as:
Lead-acid batteries
Used oil or oil filters
Any product labeled:
Toxic
Poison
Corrosive
Flammable
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GARBAGE AND RECYCLING
Garbage and Recycling is picked up once a week on Friday.
If your garbage or recycling is not at curbside by 6:00am and the collection vehicle has already been in the area, it will not be picked up until your next scheduled collection day.
The bins shall be removed from the curbside and returned to a point at the side yard, except where a side yard abuts a right of way, or rear of the residence, not later than 12:01am (midnight) of the day of collection (Friday). The containers should be placed on the side, or at the back of the house, or inside of the garage during non-pickup days. Moving the container away from the curb does not exclude you from receiving a penalty. The container cannot be anywhere between the house and the road.
Bins that are not removed will be tagged by the city and place a fine may be added to your utility bill.
There are announcements posted in your utility bill or on our website, which posts the holiday schedules. The general rule is that pickup days will move to the following day. For example, if your pickup day is on Monday and the holiday falls on a Monday, then your garbage will be picked up on Tuesday. Then normal Tuesday pickups will occur on Wednesday, normal Wednesday pickups will occur on Thursday, normal Thursday pickups will occur on Friday, and normal Friday pickups will occur on Saturday.
All glass should go in the garbage. Recycling guidelines have changed since the carts/bins were manufactured. Glass is not recyclable in Polk County.
Accepted recyclable materials: (Must all be clean & dry. If they are not clean & dry, they are garbage.)
Aluminum cans
Steel (tin) cans or containers
Dry Cardboard, cereal boxes, & cardboard egg cartons
Dry Newspaper, uncoated paper, paper products
Most gallon and half gallon, translucent plastics (no colored or clear plastics), milk, juice or water jugs
Only translucent plastics (no colored or clear plastics) are accepted
Keeping recyclable materials dry and free of grease, soil and residue is the best way to ensure success. (No greasy pizza boxes.)
Avoid including items that can contaminate your cart. By keeping your roll cart lid closed, you will minimize contact with rain and keep your materials dry. Only items listed above should be placed in the recyclable materials cart; items not listed above, should be placed in the garbage roll cart.
Watch the 14 minute Polk Waste Wise video to learn more about accepted materials for recycling.
Why not glass and plastic?
Glass breaks easily during the collection process and compromises other viable materials in the RMCP roll cart. As a result, broken glass embeds in healthy materials making them unlikely to be reused or recycled successfully into new products.
Not all plastics are created equal. Many do not blend effectively during the process of creating a new product. This poses regulatory and processing challenges to manufacturers, who incorporate post-consumer plastics into a new product. For this reason, Polk County limits its collection to products that have the longest environmental and economic value, such as milk and juice jugs
Yard Waste
Yard waste collection service is intended for the collection of routine lawn and landscape maintenance. Routine yard waste is collected once a week.
Yard waste may be bagged, containerized, bundled or neatly stacked; each (bag, container, or bundle) should weigh less than 50 pounds ie: Grass trimmings and leaves
- Yard Waste outside of a container should be no more than six feet in length and/or no more than six inches in diameter.
- Yard waste must be within three feet of the curb or edge of the street
- Yard waste must be at least three feet from other fixed objects.
- cannot be commingled with garbage
Routine yard trash is any vegetative matter resulting from residential property lawn and landscaping maintenance including:
- Shrub and tree trimmings
- Grass clippings
- Palm fronds
- Branches
Material placed curbside that does not meet the county guidelines of routine yard trash will be tagged with a non-collection notice, which serves to inform the resident that the material is non-conforming debris and therefore cannot be collected.
If a material is non-conforming, then disposal is the responsibility of the resident. You can also arrange pick up by calling the Haines City Public Works Department at (863) 421-3777.
Routine yard trash does not include:
- Whole trees/tree trunks
- Stumps/logs
- Root systems
- Land clearing debris (i.e. rocks, bushes)
- Auto Parts and tires
For a list of contract haulers to remove non-conforming debris, contact the Waste and Recycling Division at (863) 284-4319.
Bulk Garbage
Schedule curbside collection by calling the Haines City Public Works Department at (863) 421-3777:
- Refrigerators Freezers
- Washers & Dryers
- Furnaces Window
- Air Conditioners
- Stoves & Ovens
- Furniture
All glass should go in the garbage. Recycling guidelines have changed since the carts/bins were manufactured. Glass is not recyclable in Polk County.
Accepted recyclable materials: (Must all be clean & dry. If they are not clean & dry, they are garbage.)
- Aluminum cans
- Steel (tin) cans or containers
- Dry Cardboard, cereal boxes, & cardboard egg cartons
- Dry Newspaper, uncoated paper, paper products
- Most gallon and half gallon, translucent plastics (no colored or clear plastics), milk, juice or water jugs
- Only translucent plastics (no colored or clear plastics) are accepted
Keeping recyclable materials dry and free of grease, soil and residue is the best way to ensure success. (No greasy pizza boxes.)
Avoid including items that can contaminate your cart. By keeping your roll cart lid closed, you will minimize contact with rain and keep your materials dry. Only items listed above should be placed in the recyclable materials cart; items not listed above, should be placed in the garbage roll cart.
Watch the 14 minute Polk Waste Wise video to learn more about accepted materials for recycling.
Why not glass and plastic?
Glass breaks easily during the collection process and compromises other viable materials in the RMCP roll cart. As a result, broken glass embeds in healthy materials making them unlikely to be reused or recycled successfully into new products.
Not all plastics are created equal. Many do not blend effectively during the process of creating a new product. This poses regulatory and processing challenges to manufacturers, who incorporate post-consumer plastics into a new product. For this reason, Polk County limits its collection to products that have the longest environmental and economic value, such as milk and juice jugs.
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Please see the following changes to the recycling program
All glass should go in the garbage. Recycling guidelines have changed since the carts/bins were manufactured. Glass is not recyclable in Polk County.
Accepted recyclable materials: (Must all be clean & dry. If they are not clean & dry, they are garbage.)
- Aluminum cans
- Steel (tin) cans or containers
- Dry Cardboard, cereal boxes, & cardboard egg cartons
- Dry Newspaper, uncoated paper, paper products
- Most gallon and half gallon, translucent plastics (no colored or clear plastics), milk, juice or water jugs
- Only translucent plastics (no colored or clear plastics) are accepted
Keeping recyclable materials dry and free of grease, soil and residue is the best way to ensure success.
(No greasy pizza boxes.)
Avoid including items that can contaminate your cart. By keeping your roll cart lid closed, you will minimize contact with rain and keep your materials dry. Only items listed above should be placed in the recyclable materials cart; items not listed above, should be placed in the garbage roll cart.
Why not glass and plastic?
Glass breaks easily during the collection process and compromises other viable materials in the RMCP roll cart. As a result, broken glass embeds in healthy materials making them unlikely to be reused or recycled successfully into new products.
Not all plastics are created equal. Many do not blend effectively during the process of creating a new product. This poses regulatory and processing challenges to manufacturers, who incorporate post-consumer plastics into a new product. For this reason, Polk County limits its collection to products that have the longest environmental and economic value, such as milk and juice jugs.
All glass should go in the garbage. Recycling guidelines have changed since the carts/bins were manufactured. Glass is not recyclable in Polk County.
Accepted recyclable materials: (Must all be clean & dry. If they are not clean & dry, they are garbage.)
- Aluminum cans
- Steel (tin) cans or containers
- Dry Cardboard, cereal boxes, & cardboard egg cartons
- Dry Newspaper, uncoated paper, paper products
- Most gallon and half gallon, translucent plastics (no colored or clear plastics), milk, juice or water jugs
- Only translucent plastics (no colored or clear plastics) are accepted
Keeping recyclable materials dry and free of grease, soil and residue is the best way to ensure success. (No greasy pizza boxes.)
Avoid including items that can contaminate your cart. By keeping your roll cart lid closed, you will minimize contact with rain and keep your materials dry. Only items listed above should be placed in the recyclable materials cart; items not listed above, should be placed in the garbage roll cart.
Watch the 14 minute Polk Waste Wise video to learn more about accepted materials for recycling.
Why not glass and plastic?
Glass breaks easily during the collection process and compromises other viable materials in the RMCP roll cart. As a result, broken glass embeds in healthy materials making them unlikely to be reused or recycled successfully into new products.
Not all plastics are created equal. Many do not blend effectively during the process of creating a new product. This poses regulatory and processing challenges to manufacturers, who incorporate post-consumer plastics into a new product. For this reason, Polk County limits its collection to products that have the longest environmental and economic value, such as milk and juice jugs.
All glass should go in the garbage. Recycling guidelines have changed since the carts/bins were manufactured. Glass is not recyclable in Polk County.
Accepted recyclable materials: (Must all be clean & dry. If they are not clean & dry, they are garbage.)
- Aluminum cans
- Steel (tin) cans or containers
- Dry Cardboard, cereal boxes, & cardboard egg cartons
- Dry Newspaper, uncoated paper, paper products
- Most gallon and half gallon, translucent plastics (no colored or clear plastics), milk, juice or water jugs
- Only translucent plastics (no colored or clear plastics) are accepted
Keeping recyclable materials dry and free of grease, soil and residue is the best way to ensure success. (No greasy pizza boxes.)
Avoid including items that can contaminate your cart. By keeping your roll cart lid closed, you will minimize contact with rain and keep your materials dry. Only items listed above should be placed in the recyclable materials cart; items not listed above, should be placed in the garbage roll cart.
Watch the 14 minute Polk Waste Wise video to learn more about accepted materials for recycling.
Why not glass and plastic?
Glass breaks easily during the collection process and compromises other viable materials in the RMCP roll cart. As a result, broken glass embeds in healthy materials making them unlikely to be reused or recycled successfully into new products.
Not all plastics are created equal. Many do not blend effectively during the process of creating a new product. This poses regulatory and processing challenges to manufacturers, who incorporate post-consumer plastics into a new product. For this reason, Polk County limits its collection to products that have the longest environmental and economic value, such as milk and juice jugs.
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I have old paint cans; how do I get rid of those?
If the paint is water based, the can is mostly empty and the paint is completely dried out, then Republic Services will pick them up. If it is oil based paint, then you can dispose of it during the Clean Up Day that includes hazardous waste or take it to the North Central Landfill.
I am remodeling my home; how do I get rid of construction debris?
You have a few choices:
• Call the Public Works Department at 863-421-3777 to schedule a pickup (there will be a charge).
• Someone from Republic Services will drive by your house and give you a quote of how much it will cost, then the charge will be added to your utility bill. Republic Services will not pick it up unless you agree to the amount.
• Take the debris to the North Central Landfill.
• Contact a company that offers “roll-off” dumpsters (Lowes, Home Depot, Republic Services, etc.).
I have hazardous waste that I need to get rid of, how do I do that?
• Hazardous waste is picked up once a year, usually in March. However, you can take it to the North Central Landfill anytime during their normal hours of operation.
North Central Landfill 7215 East Highway 540 (between Lakeland and Winter Haven)
• Waste that is accepted at the landfill include:
• Garbage
• Construction and demolition debris
• Yard trash
• Recyclables
• Household hazardous wastes
• Appliances
• Tires (max 10)
• Electronics (TVs and computers)
I have old paint cans; how do I get rid of those?If the paint is water based, the can is mostly empty and the paint is completely dried out, then Republic Services will pick them up. If it is oil based paint, then you can dispose of it during the Clean Up Day that includes hazardous waste or take it to the North Central Landfill. I am remodeling my home; how do I get rid of construction debris?
You have a few choices:
-
Call the Public Works Department at 863-421-3777 to schedule a pickup (there will be a charge).
-
Someone from Republic Services will drive by your house and give you a quote of how much it will cost, then the charge will be added to your utility bill. Republic Services will not pick it up unless you agree to the amount.
-
Take the debris to the North Central Landfill.
-
Contact a company that offers “roll-off” dumpsters (Lowes, Home Depot, Republic Services, etc.).
I have hazardous waste that I need to get rid of, how do I do that?
North Central Landfill 7215 East Highway 540 (between Lakeland and Winter Haven)
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Waste that is accepted at the landfill include:
-
Garbage
-
Construction and demolition debris
-
Yard trash
-
Recyclables
-
Household hazardous wastes
-
Appliances
-
Tires (max 10)
-
Electronics (TVs and computers)
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