Trash & Recycling in Highlands County, FL (2026)
9 rules for unincorporated Highlands County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Every residential and commercial property in unincorporated Highlands County must use the franchised hauler assigned to its service area for trash pickup. The Board of County Commissioners awards five-year franchise contracts by service area, and the only way out is the on-site composting or recycling exemption under section 8.5-30.
Highlands County Mandatory Franchise Trash Collection
Some RestrictionsHighlands County Code § 8.5-22
(a)All residential property within the unincorporated area of the county shall be required to utilize the residential collection service provided by the franchisee for the service area in which the property is located, unless granted an exemption pursuant to section 8.5-30. ... (f)All commercial property within the unincorporated area of the county shall be required to utilize commercial collec...
Bin Placement Rules
Unincorporated Highlands County residents must set garbage containers at curbside, or within 75 feet of the road for rear-door service, clear of fences, garages and hedges. Section 8.5-24 requires containers out by 7:00 a.m. on collection day.
Highlands County Garbage Container Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsHighlands County Code § 8.5-24
g.Standards relating to use of garbage containers. Unless otherwise required in the franchise contract in rural areas, the residential customer shall place their garbage container at curbside, unless another location is approved by the franchisee. Placement of containers for rear-door collection service shall be within side or rear yards within 75 feet of curb or road service, at or near ground...
Bulk Item Disposal
Unincorporated Highlands County residents get free bulk-item pickup twice a month under section 8.5-24: white goods anytime, plus items under six feet, 100 pounds and two cubic yards, with up to six tires a year at no extra charge.
Highlands County Bulk Item Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsHighlands County Code § 8.5-24
f.Extraordinary waste collection services. The franchisee shall provide extraordinary waste collection services twice a month throughout each service area on a schedule established by the franchisee and approved by the county, which shall include all residential customers requesting that service. The franchisee shall collect, twice a month, from residential property, at no additional charge, ex...
Recycling Requirements
Before Highlands County issues a building permit for unincorporated construction or renovation, section 8.5-28 requires the applicant to pick a licensed collector or an approved recycling/disposal method for the resulting construction and demolition debris; no permit issues until one is on file.
Highlands County Construction Debris Recycling Rule
Some RestrictionsHighlands County Code § 8.5-28
(a)Prior to the issuance of a building permit for the construction or renovation of any structure, the applicant shall provide for the collection and disposal of any construction and demolition debris which may result from the construction. ... (2)The applicant will provide for the collection, recycling, or disposal of construction and demolition debris at an authorized landfill using equipment...
Holiday Pickup Schedule
In unincorporated Highlands County, the franchised hauler skips collection on Sundays and on holidays the county landfill is closed. Section 8.5-24 pushes the missed pickup to the next regularly scheduled collection day, and the county tells each franchisee by August 1 which dates the landfill is closed the following fiscal year.
Highlands County Holiday Trash Pickup Shifts
Light RestrictionsHighlands County Code § 8.5-24
No collection shall occur on Sundays, except on those approved by the county administrator or to maintain a regular schedule due to holidays. No collection shall occur on holidays designated by the county in which the county landfill is closed. The county shall notify each franchisee, in writing, by August 1 of each year of those dates which the county landfill shall be closed or have reduced h...
Illegal Dumping
It is unlawful in unincorporated Highlands County to dump, place or let accumulate grass, solid waste, white goods, wrecked vessels or vehicles, or other obnoxious material on any land, improved or not, if it could harbor rats or snakes, create a fire hazard, or harm residents' health and safety. Highlands County Code enforcement can fine violators daily.
Illegal Dumping Ban in Highlands County
Heavy RestrictionsHighlands County Code § 5-17
No person shall dump or cause to be dumped or place or cause to be placed, leave or permit to accumulate any grass, solid waste, white goods, inoperative and derelict vessels and vehicles or obnoxious material of any kind on any lands or premises, improved or unimproved, within the county, so that the same shall or may afford feed or harborage or tend to be a breeding place or haven for snakes,...
Dumpster Rules
Commercial properties in unincorporated Highlands County must use containers supplied by their franchised solid waste hauler, kept clean, operable and clearly marked against hazardous or bio-hazardous waste. Section 8.5-24(b) sets minimum pickup frequency, requiring weekly service for ordinary waste and twice-weekly service, three days apart, for establishments generating perishable waste unless it goes into an enclosed roll-off compactor.
Highlands County Commercial Dumpster Requirements
Some RestrictionsHighlands County Code § 8.5-24(b)(1), (3)
(1)General provisions. ... the fr ... equency of collection shall not be less than one per week, unless otherwise approved by the county administrator. Collections at establishments generating perishable waste shall be not less than twice per week and not more than three days apart (Sundays and legal holidays excluded), unless that perishable waste is deposited in a properly functioning enclose...
Collection Schedule
Every residential property in unincorporated Highlands County must subscribe to its area's franchised trash hauler under Section 8.5-22, absent a county-granted exemption. Section 8.5-24(a) sets the actual schedule: garbage pickup at least twice a week, three days apart, between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., with no collection on Sundays or landfill-closure holidays.
Highlands County Mandatory Trash Collection Schedule
Some RestrictionsHighlands County Code §§ 8.5-22(a), 8.5-24(a)(5)a
(a)All residential property within the unincorporated area of the county shall be required to utilize the residential collection service provided by the franchisee for the service area in which the property is located, unless granted an exemption pursuant to section 8.5-30. ... The franchisee shall pick up and deliver to the county landfill, in accordance with section 8.5-21, the municipal soli...
Recycling Rules
In unincorporated Highlands County the franchised hauler must pick up bundled yard trash for recycling at least twice a month, separate from household garbage. Section 8.5-24 caps each bundle at 100 pounds and six feet, and bars mixing horticultural trash with municipal solid waste.
Highlands County Horticultural Trash Recycling Pickup
Some RestrictionsHighlands County Code § 8.5-24
Not less than twice a month with schedules approved by the county the franchisee shall also pick up and deliver to the county landfill, or any other authorized landfill having a horticultural trash recycling program approved by the county administrator, horticultural trash placed at curbside, provided that it is bundled and each bundle does not exceed 100 pounds in weight and six feet in length...
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