News

Bartow, Fla. (Aug. 26, 2021) — Polk County’s two contracted waste haulers will target missed pickups throughout the county on Saturday.

The additional waste collections, which will target specific materials on each side of the county, are due to staffing shortages at both companies caused by the pandemic.

The Saturday routes on the west side of the county will target recycling, yard waste and bulk collections. For customers on the east side of county, haulers will pick up bulk waste.

“The haulers strategy is to start collecting the oldest materials on the ground and then move to the newest until they are caught up” said Brian Cogswell, Polk Waste & Recycling’s business process analyst manager. “If you’re on the west side of the county, it is best to have your bulk, recycling and yard waste out through Saturday.”

Saturday’s additional collections will focus on specific areas. In western Polk, haulers will target the Bartow, Gibsonia, Kathleen, Medulla, Willow Oak, Winston, Fussels Corner, Mulberry, Bradley Junction, Fuller Heights, Brewster, Achan, Nichols and Royster communities. On the eastern side, haulers will focus on bulk waste collection in the Davenport area.

Normally, residential curbside collection occurs between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Collection service schedules may be extended according to labor availability and customer needs.

Updates regarding service delays or changes will be posted on the county’s website, www.polk-county.net website, and the county’s Facebook, Twitter and NextDoor social media until collection services return to normal schedules.