Published: October 12, 2024
Bartow, Fla. (Oct. 12, 2024) — Debris hauling is set to begin on Monday, Oct. 14, giving all residents time to get residential hurricane debris to the curb before trucks are in neighborhoods. Residents should not place debris in roadways or close to permanent objects like trees, mailboxes or under power lines. Large claw trucks cannot move through narrow roads or navigate around other objects.
The county’s initial focus will be in the most heavily damaged areas that are unaffected by flooding. There will be a debris removal progress website, beginning next week, to view progress.
Debris haulers will sweep the entire county, so residents do not have to call and report or request service; however, residents may call the Residential Hurricane Milton Debris Hotline at (833) 843-1920 with questions.
To ensure debris is picked up at the curb, residents should separate debris by the following categories:
• Vegetative Debris (unbagged leaves, logs, plants and tree branches)
• Construction and demolition debris (building materials, carpet, drywall, furniture, lumber, mattress, plumbing, etc.)
• Appliances and white goods (A/C units, dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, etc.)
• Electronics (televisions, computers, etc.)
• Household hazardous waste (cleaning supplies, batteries, paints, pesticides, etc.)
For residents who wish to self-haul and drop off their debris the following options are available:
The following location will accept all hurricane-related debris at no cost during regular operation hours: Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday: 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Polk County North Central Transfer Station, 3131 K-Ville Ave, Auburndale, FL 33823
The following yard waste/vegetative debris only drop-off sites will be open Monday through Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., beginning, Sunday, Oct. 13.
• Polk County Strickland Avenue, 5901 Strickland Ave., Lakeland, FL 33812
• Polk County Marigold, 9500 Marigold Ave., Poinciana, FL 34759
The county’s intent is to have all Hurricane Milton debris removed by Nov. 24, 2024.
The City of Lakeland will collect and manage those efforts within their city limits.
Residents in unincorporated Polk who have collection services through the county’s Solid Waste Division should keep their routine yard waste separate from storm debris. Polk County Solid Waste haulers will only pick up yard waste that meets the yard waste collection guidelines, which can be viewed at www.polk-county.net/services/polk-county-solid-waste/residential-waste/#yard