Residential Waste

Hauling and disposal of Polk County’s waste is not a simple task. It is a science. Nearly 750,000 tons of trash are collected from around the county annually. Of that, about 170,000 tons of municipal solid waste (garbage) are generated by the approximate 140,000 unincorporated Polk household customers.

The county’s Solid Waste Ordinance governing residential waste collection was enacted in 1989. Fees for once-a-week trash collection are billed through annual assessments.

Polk County contracts with GFL and FCC Environmental for residential curbside collection.

Weekly Residential Curbside Services

All residential curbside collection occurs Monday-Friday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Holidays that may impact your residential collection:

Curbside Tips for Successful Pick-up in All Service Areas

• All household waste 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
• Find Your Collection Day to learn your furniture and appliance pick up schedules and garbage collection days day based on area.

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 furniture and appliance pickup.

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 (effective Oct. 1) or visit the Solid Waste Administrative Office. Each household may have one additional cart. The carts can be serviced and/or replaced as needed.
• Hand-deliver your application and payment to the Solid Waste Administrative Office or mail your application and check, payable to Polk BoCC, to:
  • Solid Waste Administrative Office
    Attn: Additional Garbage Cart
    10 Environmental Loop S.
    Winter Haven, FL 33880
• Cost: $67 One-time lease fee (non-refundable).
• No disposal fee effective Oct. 1, 2024
• Acceptable form of payment: Cash, check and credit cards
• Make checks payable to: Polk BoCC

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.

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 other fixed objects

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.

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

Removal of Non-Conforming Material or Non-Conforming Bulk Waste

If items placed curbside do not meet the criteria in the residential collection contract, then please use the list of commercial haulers for the removal of non-conforming materials or bulk waste.