Skip to Main Content

Residential Collection Services

Office Hours

Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Landfill Hours

Monday through Friday: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday: 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Household Hazardous Waste Hours

Friday: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Saturday: 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Hauling and disposal of Polk County's waste is not a simple task. It is a science. Nearly 750,000 tons of trash are collected from around the county annually. Of that, about 170,000 tons of municipal solid waste (garbage) are generated by the approximate 140,000 unincorporated Polk household customers.

The county's Solid Waste Ordinance governing residential waste collection was enacted in 1989. Fees for once-a-week trash collection are billed through annual assessments.

Polk County contracts with Advanced Disposal Services and FCC Environmental for residential curbside collection. Residential Collection Guidelines

Weekly Residential Curbside Services

  • Household waste collection (automated)
  • Yard waste collection
  • Recyclable material collection (automated)
  • Bulk waste collection (As needed)

All residential curbside collection occurs Monday-Friday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Curbside Tips for Successful Pick-up in All Service Areas

  • Curbside Collection Placement Guidelines
  • All household waste, recyclable materials and routine yard waste should be placed curbside either the night before or by 6 a.m. on your collection day
  • Roll cart, bundles, yard waste and bulk waste must be:
    • Within three feet of the curb or edge of the street
    • At least three feet from other fixed objects
  • Find Your Collection Day to learn your scheduled collection day based on area.

Removal of Non-Conforming Material or Non-Conforming Bulk Waste

If items placed curbside do not meet the criteria in the residential collection contract, then please utilize the list of commercial haulers for the removal of non-conforming materials or bulk waste.

List of Local Commercial Haulers

Unacceptable Trash Items

Do not place the following materials/items in your garbage roll cart or at the curb. If any of these items are found in your cart or at the curb, they will be tagged with an instructional notice and not serviced. Call (863) 284-4319 for proper disposal information.

  • Trees or land clearing debris e.g., rocks or large tree remains, including trunks, stumps or root systems regardless of how small they have been cut. For more information, see guidelines for yard waste.
  • Cars
  • Boats
  • Tires
  • Automobile parts
  • Engines
  • Asbestos
  • Radioactive materials
  • Explosives, including propane cylinders
  • Biomedical waste, including sharps/syringes used for medical purposes
  • Household Hazardous Wastes, such as:
    • Lead-acid batteries
    • Used oil or oil filters
    • Any product labeled:
      • Toxic
      • Poison
      • Corrosive
      • Flammable
      • Irritant

Contact Us

Dale Henderson
Director

Phone: (863) 284-4319
Toll Free: (800) 780-5346

PolkWasteWise@polk-county.net

Address:
10 Environmental Loop S.
Winter Haven, FL 33880

Office Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday:
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In This Section