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

5-24(b), part of the Highlands County Solid Waste Collection, Disposal and Assessment Ordinance, governs commercial container service separately from residential pickup. 5-21, and let commercial customers avoid the day-and-time restrictions that apply to residential collection, since there is no restriction as to time of collection or day of collection for any commercial property. The size of a commercial container and how often it is emptied are set by the franchisee in consultation with the business, subject to the county administrator's approval if the two sides disagree, but frequency cannot fall below once a week without county approval.

Businesses that generate perishable waste must be serviced at least twice a week, no more than three days apart, excluding Sundays and legal holidays, unless the waste goes into a properly functioning enclosed roll-off compactor container, which may still be emptied only once a week. Subsection (b)(3) requires the franchisee to keep every commercial container in a clean and operable condition with an acceptable appearance according to standards the county sets from time to time, and to mark every container to prohibit disposal of hazardous waste, bio-hazardous waste or sludge.

A business that instead uses residential-style garbage containers must meet the same container standards that apply to homes. 5-23, operating under a franchise contract, may place or service these containers; an unlicensed hauler placing a roll-off box in the county violates that separate licensing section.