Highlands County, FL Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)
Key Facts
- Pickup frequency
- Twice a month, free
- Free size limit
- Under 6 ft, 100 lbs, 2 cu yd
- Free tires
- Up to 6 per year
- Oversized items
- Extra charge, county-approved rate
- White goods
- Collected free regardless of size
Summary
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.
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, extraordinary waste that is white goods or is less than six feet in length, less than 100 pounds per bundle or item in weight, and, at any one time, less than two cubic yards in size and, in the case of tires, does not exceed six tires in any fiscal year.
Full Breakdown
5-24(a)(5)f requires the franchisee to run extraordinary waste collection twice a month throughout each service area, on a schedule the franchisee sets and the county approves, covering every residential customer who requests the service. At no additional charge, the franchisee must collect white goods of any size, plus other extraordinary waste that is less than six feet long, less than 100 pounds per bundle or item, and less than two cubic yards at any one time; tires are included free up to six per residential customer per fiscal year.
Anything bigger triggers a fee: extraordinary waste other than white goods that tops six feet, 100 pounds, or two cubic yards, and any seventh-or-later tire in a fiscal year, is collected only for an additional charge that the county must approve, and the franchisee bills and collects that charge directly. 5-24(a)(5)d requires the franchisee to offer rear-door pickup to customers who request it, but that service does not cover extraordinary waste and carries its own county-approved additional charge. 5-2 as discarded refrigerators, ranges, washers, dryers, water heaters, dishwashers and similar domestic and commercial appliances.
Violations & Fines
Extraordinary waste that a franchisee refuses to collect within the twice-monthly schedule, or that a resident sets out oversized without paying the approved additional charge, is handled through section 8.5-24(d)'s code enforcement path: a written warning for a first violation, then a citation and Class I fine under sections 2-380 and 2-382. Section 8.5-33 also backs the chapter with a fine up to $500.00 or 60 days in jail for any violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does the county pick up bulk trash in unincorporated Highlands County?
How many old tires can I put out for free?
What if my old couch is bigger than the size limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Highlands County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Highlands County to another location·View the Florida trash & recycling overview
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