As of Oct. 1, Polk County no longer offers curbside recycling collection in unincorporated areas. Residents may keep using the recycling cart for household or yard waste and drop recyclables at the landfill, which still recycles concrete, yard trash, appliances, scrap metal, electronics and household hazardous waste.
Under the county's new hauling contracts, Polk County no longer offers curbside recycling collection to unincorporated homes. Residents may continue using their recycling cart for household or yard waste until it is no longer serviceable. For those who still want to recycle, the landfill provides drop-off containers, located across from Household Hazardous Waste, for the materials traditionally recycled curbside, and the landfill continues to recycle concrete, yard trash, appliances, scrap metals, electronics and household hazardous wastes. Recycling requirements and curbside service inside incorporated cities such as Lakeland and Winter Haven are set by those cities, not the county.
No county penalty for not recycling; contaminated or improper materials placed for collection may simply be left or treated as trash.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Polk County, FL
Polk County addresses hoarding through its nuisance-numbers and animal-care provisions plus Florida's cruelty law. Keeping animals in numbers or conditions t...
Polk County, FL
Polk County follows state law: intentionally feeding bears, alligators, and certain other wildlife is prohibited by Florida's FWC. Penalties under FS 379.412...
Polk County, FL
Polk County does not prohibit backyard composting; UF/IFAS Polk Extension actively promotes home composting. Compost piles must not become a nuisance overgro...
Polk County, FL
Polk County's Land Development Code does not prohibit artificial turf on residential property, but its landscaping standards for new development favor living...
Polk County, FL
Polk County's Land Development Code requires new non-residential and multifamily development to use water-efficient, Florida-friendly landscaping, with nativ...
Polk County, FL
Neither Polk County nor Florida restricts residential rainwater harvesting; rain barrels and cisterns are legal and encouraged for conservation. SWFWMD and U...
See how Polk County's recycling requirements rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.