Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Lakeland
Florida residential routes generally operate Monday through Friday. Your specific household collection depends on your local county zoning map.
State Mandate
Do not mix yard trimmings with regular household garbage.
Green Cart Bin (Trash)
Place your green cart at the curb by 6:00 AM on collection day. The lid opening must face the street, and wheels must face your home. Keep it 3 feet away from mailboxes, cars, and other carts.
Accepted Items
- ✓Normal household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Bagged trash
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loose in the blue cart—never bagged! Keep it simple: recycle clean and empty plastic bottles, cans, paper, and cardboard.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers (clean and empty)
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Clean cardboard
- ✓Paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Stringy or tangled items
- ✕Food residue
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Styrofoam
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste must not go in the green garbage cart. Debris must be bundled, bagged, or containerized. Branches can be no longer than 5 feet and 5 inches in diameter. Bags/containers cannot exceed 40 pounds.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small branches and limbs
- ✓Shrubbery trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand (up to 4 free collections per calendar year).
Placement
Items must be placed curbside at the front of your home prior to pickup. Claw trucks cannot service alleyways due to limited space and driver safety hazards.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches, chairs, and mattresses
- ✓ Large tree branches (max 8 feet long for bulk)
- ✓ Refrigerators and freezers (doors MUST be removed)
- ✓ Washers, dryers, and water heaters
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris from hired contractors
- ✕ Hazardous waste and paint
- ✕ Automobile parts and tires
- ✕ Dead animals (City removes from right-of-ways only, not private property)
The first four collections (up to 20 cubic yards each) per year are free. Excess amounts, or collections beyond the yearly limit, may incur additional special pickup fees.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Collection schedules may be delayed if a major holiday impacts your regular service day. Typically, service is delayed by one day for the remainder of the holiday week (e.g., Monday pickups move to Tuesday).
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the same holiday shift as regular residential garbage and recycling schedules.
Always check the City of Lakeland website or the LakelandGov mobile app for specific route adjustments during holiday weeks, as not every city holiday causes a route delay.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Cart
The City of Lakeland strongly urges a 'Bag-Free Recycling' habit. Plastic bags are the number one contaminant; they tangle in the gears of the recycling equipment, causing costly damage and delays. Leave all recyclables completely loose in your cart.
Clean Plastics Only
When recycling plastic containers—like yogurt cups, shampoo bottles, or soda bottles—ensure they are completely empty and rinsed clean of all food or liquid residue. Avoid tossing in plastics that held flammable or automotive fluids.
Never Mix Yard Debris with Garbage
Do not throw grass clippings or leaves into your green garbage cart. The city separates yard waste so it can be composted into commercial products that support Florida farmers. Mixing the two streams results in perfectly good organic material ending up in the landfill.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June - NovemberWhen a severe storm approaches Polk County, secure all rollout carts indoors. Do not place large bulk items or massive yard waste piles at the curb, as high winds can turn debris into dangerous projectiles.
America Recycles Day - ShredFest
NovemberEach November, the City of Lakeland hosts 'ShredFest' in honor of America Recycles Day. Residents can bring up to five file boxes of confidential documents to the Solid Waste Office on Evelyn Ave for free, secure, on-site shredding and recycling.
Post-Holiday Cleanup
December - JanuaryAfter major holidays like Christmas, if you exceed your cart's capacity with wrapping paper and packaging, you can place extra bags next to your cart. This will count toward your four free annual overflow pick-ups.
About Lakeland Waste Management
Automated Curbside Collection in Lakeland
The City of Lakeland operates a highly efficient automated collection system for residential trash. All household garbage must fit inside the city-issued green cart so the trucks' mechanical arms can safely grab them. Place your cart at the curb or end of your driveway by 6:00 AM on your scheduled collection day. Ensure the wheels face your property and the lid opens toward the street, leaving at least three feet of clearance around the cart.
Handling Extra Trash: The Four-Time Rule
If you occasionally generate more garbage than your cart can handle, Lakeland offers a generous overflow policy. You are permitted four additional free pick-ups per calendar year for extra bagged garbage. Simply place your extra bags next to (but not leaning against) your green cart. The automated truck driver will empty your cart, manually load your extra bags into it, and empty it again. If you exceed four overflow instances in a year, you will be billed a $17.25 fee for each occurrence.
Scheduling Generous Free Bulk Pickups
Whether you are doing a massive spring cleaning or remodeling a room, Lakeland makes bulk disposal easy. Residents are provided up to four free large bulk junk or bulk yard waste collections per year. Each collection can be up to 20 cubic yards in size! You must schedule these claw truck collections in advance by calling Customer Service. Remember, these large items must be placed curbside—never in the alleyway, even if you normally receive alley collection.
Differentiating City vs. County Waste Services
As the Lakeland area grows, boundary lines can confuse new residents. The City of Lakeland Solid Waste Division exclusively services homes within city limits using green garbage carts and blue recycling carts. If your property is outside city limits, you are serviced by Polk County, which utilizes gray garbage carts and black recycling carts with yellow lids. Always check your cart color or contact 863-284-4319 if you are a county customer.
Drop-off Facilities
North Central Landfill (Polk County Solid Waste)
7425 DeCastro Rd, Winter Haven, FL 33880
Materials Accepted
Lakeland Solid Waste Office (Special Events Only)
605 Evelyn Ave, Lakeland, FL 33801
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I have more garbage than fits in my green cart?
If you have extra bags of trash, leave them next to your garbage cart (not leaning against it). The driver will empty the cart, load your extra bags in, and empty it again. The city allows four of these extra pick-ups per calendar year for free. After you use your four free pick-ups, you will be billed $17.25 per occurrence.
How do I schedule a large furniture or appliance pickup?
Lakeland residents get four free bulk pickups (up to 20 cubic yards each) per calendar year. You must request this service by calling 863-834-8773 or emailing Customer Service. Be sure to place the items at the front curb, not in the alley, and remove all doors from refrigerators or freezers before placing them outside.
Can I put my garbage out in the alley behind my house?
Yes, if your property is currently serviced by a city alley route, you may place your standard garbage and recycling carts there. However, bulk items and large yard waste piles are strictly prohibited in the alleys due to limited space for claw trucks; these must be placed at your front street curb and scheduled for pickup.
How do I know if I have City of Lakeland or Polk County trash service?
You can easily tell by the color of your carts. City of Lakeland customers use a Green cart for garbage and a Blue cart for recycling. If you have a Gray garbage cart and a Black recycling cart with a yellow lid, you are outside city limits and are serviced by Polk County.