Highlands County, FL Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)

5-24(a)(5)g sets the placement standard for residential garbage containers: unless a franchise contract sets a different rule for rural areas, the customer must place the container at curbside, or at another location the franchisee approves. Where a customer has signed up for rear-door collection, the container must sit within the side or rear yard, within 75 feet of the curb or road, at or near ground level, and outside of fences, garages, carports, hedges or other enclosures, positioned so the franchisee's crew can reach it easily.

The same section removes any cap on how many containers a franchisee must service: there is no limit on the number of garbage containers picked up per stop. on the day of collection. 5-25(b)(2) backs this up on the container itself, requiring receptacles with two handles and no more than 35-gallon capacity, watertight and free of jagged edges, with a tight-fitting cover to keep out flies, insects, rats and other animals, and capped at 50 pounds when full. Customers must also keep containers clear of interference from pets so the franchisee can complete the pickup without disruption to its crew's safety.