Lakeland, FL Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)

Section 86-31 defines "yard trash" as trimmings from grass, shrubbery and trees, leaves and other vegetative waste from ordinary yard maintenance, splitting it into "regular yard trash" (leaves, grass and shrubbery clippings, tree trimmings) and "bulk yard trash" (wood matter, including branches, larger than five inches in diameter and longer than five feet). Section 86-33(c) requires yard trash to be set out separately from other solid waste on designated collection days: regular yard trash must go in plastic bags or containers holding no more than 40 pounds, and tree trimmings under the bulk-yard-trash size must be tied and bundled or containerized at no more than 40 pounds; anything longer than 15 feet, or too heavy for the collection vehicle to lift, must be cut into smaller pieces by whoever generated it.

Under § 86-33(d), the city collects regular yard trash from residential customers once per week on the scheduled day, while bulk yard trash and white goods are collected only after the resident calls ahead, with up to 20 cubic yards of bulk yard trash or bulk waste picked up four times per calendar year per service address. Commercial customers may request a bulk yard trash pickup for an additional charge under § 86-33(e)(2). the day after pickup, and bars placing any cart on a sidewalk or in front of a neighboring property.