Trash & Recycling in Winter Haven, FL (2026)
6 verified trash & recycling rules for Winter Haven, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Bin Placement Rules
Winter Haven residents must put garbage carts at the property edge next to the street, not behind an obstacle or inside a building, and containers can go out no earlier than 5 p.m. the evening before pickup and must come back in by 10 a.m. the following day. A container left out or hidden past the window gets tagged by the city as a warning before any fee applies.
Winter Haven Garbage Container Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsWinter Haven Code of Ordinances §§ 14-36(a), 14-37(a)
(a)Residential garbage and refuse. Residential garbage containers shall be placed at the edge of the customer's property adjacent to a street and shall be accessible without entering into a building or shelter of any type or by walking under, around or on any obstacles. ... (a)All residential-type containers whether designated residential or commercial, shall be placed for collection in accord ...
Bulk Item Disposal
Discarded furniture, appliances and tires do not go out with the regular cart in Winter Haven: Sec. 14-35 treats them as a special pickup billed at the rate on file with the city clerk, and any nonhorticultural pile is capped at ten cubic yards per pickup. Tires can never go inside a regular refuse container at all under Sec. 14-39.
Winter Haven Bulky Item Special Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsWinter Haven Code of Ordinances §§ 14-35(b), 14-39
Any pile containing more than two (2) cubic yards or containing nonhorticultural refuse shall be considered as a special pickup, and the owner shall be billed at a rate specified in the fee schedule which is on file in the city clerk's office. Nonhorticultural refuse collection shall be limited to a maximum of ten (10) cubic yards per pickup. Discarded furniture, appliances and tires shall be c...
Illegal Dumping
Winter Haven bars anyone from scattering, throwing, placing, or depositing litter, including yard waste, junk, and building debris, on public or private property where it can be carried by wind, rain, or water. Sec. 12-59 makes dumping litter within city limits unlawful, and violations are punishable under the Code's general penalty of up to $500 per day.
Winter Haven Illegal Dumping and Litter Ban
Some RestrictionsWinter Haven Code of Ordinances § 12-59
It shall be unlawful for any person, motorist or pedestrian to scatter, throw, place, sweep or deposit anywhere within the city any litter in such a manner that it may be carried by wind, rain, water or animals upon any public or private property. Where commercial or public litter receptacles are not available, all such litter shall be carried away by the person responsible for its presence and...
Yard Waste Collection
Winter Haven picks up horticultural refuse (tree branches, palm fronds, brush) once a week in loads up to two cubic yards under Sec. 14-35(b), so long as pieces run no more than four inches thick and five feet long, palm fronds excepted. Sec. 14-42 also requires yard waste to be kept separate from household trash, or the city can charge a sorting fee.
Winter Haven Yard Waste and Brush Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsWinter Haven Code of Ordinances §§ 14-35(b), 14-42
(b)Residential horticultural refuse. Horticultural refuse consists of tree branches, palm fronds and brush trimmings, etc. Horticulture refuse shall be not more than four (4) inches in diameter and cut in lengths not exceeding five (5) feet. This length limitation does not apply to palm fronds. Up to two (2) cubic yards of residential horticultural refuse which is not within the usual collectio...
Dumpster Rules
Every commercial and multi-family development in Winter Haven must provide a dedicated solid waste collection area, and any dumpster placed there has to be screened from public roads, rights-of-way and nearby residential zoning under ULDC Sec. 21-174. The Solid Waste Division inspects and approves the pad, access drive and enclosure before a dumpster goes into service.
Winter Haven Commercial Dumpster Screening Rules
Some RestrictionsWinter Haven Unified Land Development Code § 21-174
All commercial and multi-family residential developments shall have adequate solid waste collection areas with adequate access and egress, independent of parking and loading facilities. Where dumpsters are to be used, dumpster pads and access drives shall meet the requirements currently issued by the City's Public Works Department. ... (a)Screening. Dumpster areas shall be screened to shield du...
Collection Schedule
Winter Haven runs its own residential garbage collection under Code of Ordinances Sec. 14-35, picking up trash at least once a week on a fixed city route. If a holiday falls on the regular pickup day, the truck comes the next day instead of skipping the stop, and the rest of that week's schedule shifts to match. Commercial accounts run on their own weekly-to-six-times-a-week schedule.
Winter Haven Residential Garbage Collection Schedule
Some RestrictionsWinter Haven Code of Ordinances § 14-35(a), (c)
(a)Residential garbage. Residential garbage shall be collected no less than one (1) time per week. If a one-time per week collection schedule is implemented, during a holiday week in which the normal day is not collected, the collection will occur on the next day immediately following the holiday, with the remaining collection schedule for the week adjusted accordingly to accommodate the change...
Looking for Polk County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Winter Haven city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Polk County →