Trash & Recycling in Polk County, FL (2026)
7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Polk County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Polk County collects household trash and yard waste once a week, Monday through Friday, in unincorporated areas. Look up your day on the county's service-days map. When a weekday holiday occurs, collection slides one day later for the rest of that week.
Polk County Trash Pickup Schedule & Rules
Some RestrictionsPolk County Solid Waste, Residential Waste guidelines
All residential curbside collection occurs Monday-Friday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. All household waste and routine yard waste should be placed curbside either the night before or by 6 a.m. on your collection day.
Bin Placement Rules
Polk County requires all household waste to go inside the provided garbage roll cart with the lid opening to the street; no other container may be used. Carts must be curbside by 6 a.m. on collection day and within 3 feet of the curb and at least 3 feet from
Where and When to Store Trash Carts in Polk County
Some RestrictionsPolk County Solid Waste, Residential Waste guidelines
All household waste must be placed inside the garbage roll cart, the garbage roll cart's lid must open to the street, no other container may be used for household waste, and the garbage roll cart must be within 3 feet of the curb or edge of the street and at least 3 feet from other fixed objects.
Bulk Item Disposal
Polk County collects furniture and appliances (formerly bulk waste) once a month on a pre-set scheduled day for items too large for the roll cart. Residents may also self-haul bulk items, debris, tires and scrap metal to county landfill and transfer facilities.
Bulk Item and Appliance Disposal in Polk County
Some RestrictionsPolk County Solid Waste, Residential Waste guidelines
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. Furniture and appliance collection will take place once a month on a pre-set, scheduled day.
Recycling Requirements
Unlike trash pickup, curbside recycling is not mandatory in unincorporated Polk County. Residents who want it must separately contract with a hauler that holds a county recyclable-materials franchise and pay that hauler directly, on top of the mandatory residential waste assessment.
Optional Residential Recycling Service in Polk County
Light RestrictionsPolk County Code Sec. 11-36; Sec. 11-37(A)(1)
A.Collection service each owner and occupant of residential property within an assessment area may obtain residential recyclable materials collection service by separately contracting with a residential recyclable materials collection franchise holder who has obtained and maintains a residential recyclable materials franchise from the county as described in section 11-37, below. Each owner and ...
Illegal Dumping
Polk County Code Section 8-143 makes it unlawful to dump litter on public roads, rights-of-way, public lands, or waterways, and on private property without consent. Under Florida's Litter Law (FS 403.413), dumping up to 15 pounds is a $150 civil penalty, with felony charges for large or commercial dumping.
Illegal Dumping Laws in Polk County
Some RestrictionsFS 403.413(6)(a)1; Polk County Code Sec. 8-143
any person who dumps litter in violation of subsection (4) in an amount not exceeding 15 pounds in weight or 27 cubic feet in volume and not for commercial purposes commits a noncriminal infraction, punishable by a civil penalty of $150.
Dumpster Rules
Businesses in unincorporated Polk County can only get dumpster, roll-off, or compactor service from a hauler holding a county commercial franchise. Franchised trucks must have watertight metal bodies, covered loads, legible signage, and pass an annual $200 inspection per truck.
Commercial Dumpster and Roll-off Rules in Polk County
Significant RestrictionsPolk County Code Sec. 11-41; Sec. 11-42(c)
No person shall collect, remove, and transport any commercial solid waste within Polk County unless the county has granted the person a nonexclusive commercial franchise or the person qualifies for an exemption pursuant to subsection (b), below...Vehicles used by a commercial franchise holder for the collection and transportation of commercial solid waste shall comply with the following require...
Collection Schedule
Every owner and occupant of residential property in unincorporated Polk County must use the county-franchised hauler assigned to their service area, put garbage and rubbish in county-designated containers, and set them out by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled pickup day, unless they hold an exemption.
Mandatory Residential Trash Collection in Polk County
Some RestrictionsPolk County Code Sec. 11-31; Sec. 11-35(C)
Each owner and occupant of residential property within an assessment area shall utilize the residential waste collection service provided by the residential waste collection franchise holder for the residential waste collection franchise area in which their residential property is located, unless the owner or occupant is granted an exemption from this requirement pursuant to article V, below......
Trash & Recycling by City in Polk County
2 cities in Polk County have their own trash & recycling rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Polk County ordinances
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