Residential Frequently Asked Questions
Carts are available to all customers who would like to participate in the county’s recycling program, but they must call or email to request one. Residents may call customer care at Polk County Waste & Recycling at (863) 284-4319 or submit a request online.
Roll carts are non-transferable as each has a RFID number that is linked to each resident’s property.
A two-day system is being used to help manage situations where residents place contaminated and non-recyclable materials in recycling containers, non-conforming yard trash curbside, or other materials inappropriate for curbside service. In these instances the hauler will leave the contaminated recyclable material roll cart curbside with a note that explains why the cart was not picked up. This gives the resident an opportunity to place appropriate materials in the cart or dispose of them properly.
This two day system will result in cleaner communities and promote higher quality recyclable materials, which increases its value and reduces costs to residents.
- Newspapers, paper
- Aluminum cans, steel/tin cans and their lids
- Clean cardboard
- Plastic materials that are translucent in color; no colored or clear plastics; most commonly found in the shape of gallon and half gallon jugs
Keeping recyclable materials free of grease, soil and residue is the best way to ensure success. Avoid including items that can contaminate your cart. By keeping your roll cart lid closed, you will minimize contact with rain and keep your materials dry. Only those items listed should be placed in the recyclable materials cart. Items not listed above, should be placed in the garbage roll cart.
Plastic materials (packaging) are evolving rapidly. With so many types of plastics, many do not blend effectively with one another in the re-manufacturing process of new packaging or product. For this reason, Polk County limits its collection to products that have the longest environmental and economic value, such as milk jugs.
The curbside collection of post-consumer glass bottles is not ideal for the recycling process, as post-consumer glass is transported, compacted, loaded and reloaded before it even reaches Polk's third party recycling company. Because it is very easily broken, it can embed in other materials contaminating them. The collection process is only a small piece of the recycling process.
One of the biggest struggles for manufacturing/packaging companies with selling or buying post-consumer glass is the abundance of readily-available, natural, domestic materials (sand, soda ash, and limestone) to make new glass. Without a use or demand for the recycled material, in this case post-consumer glass - it does not move forward in the recycling process.
There are currently no commercial manufacturers in Florida accepting post-consumer glass for recycling purposes.