Lakeland, Florida Trash and Recycling Collection Guide

Lakeland is a city in central Florida with a population of over 100,000 residents. This guide provides an overview of Lakeland’s waste collection services, schedules, and resources for residents and businesses.

Trash and Recycling Collection

• Lakeland provides once weekly garbage collection for residents on designated days:

  • Monday
  • Tuesday
  • Thursday
  • Friday

• Standard 96-gallon automated carts are provided for trash collection.

• Recycling is also collected weekly on the same day as trash using provided 18-gallon bins.

• Yard waste collection occurs weekly and should be placed separately from trash and recycling.

• Collection services are provided by the Lakeland Solid Waste Division.

• Use the Collection Day Map Lookup to find your scheduled collection day.

• Carts must be placed curbside by 6AM on collection day with wheels and handles facing the house.

Holiday Schedule

• Collection is delayed by one day after these holidays:

  • New Year’s Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving
  • Christmas Eve
  • Christmas Day

• View the Holiday Collection Schedule for adjusted collection days.

Recycling

• Lakeland provides weekly recycling collection to residents on their regular trash day.

• Recyclables should be placed loose in the 18-gallon bin, not bagged.

• Accepted materials include paper, cardboard, aluminum cans, steel cans, plastics #1-5, and glass bottles and jars.

• Check the Recycling Guidelines for full details.

Yard Waste

• Yard waste like leaves, grass clippings, and small branches is collected weekly on regular trash day.

• Place yard waste in reusable containers or biodegradable bags. Do not use plastic bags.

• Yard waste piles must be under 4 feet in length, 2 feet in diameter, and 50 pounds in weight.

Bulk Item Pickup

• Lakeland residents can schedule bulk item collection for large items like furniture, appliances, and mattresses.

• Bulk pickup must be scheduled in advance by emailing [email protected] or calling 863-834-8773.

• Fees apply for bulk collection based on volume and number of items.

Hazardous Waste Disposal

• Household hazardous waste like chemicals, batteries, Fluorescent bulbs, and electronics must be disposed of properly.

• Lakeland holds periodic hazardous waste collection events for residents to drop off these items for free.

• See the Hazardous Waste page for event dates.

Resources

• Lakeland Solid Waste – Department home page

• Holiday Schedule

• Collection Map

• Recycling Guidelines

• Hazardous Waste

• Contact Information:

  • Solid Waste Division: 863-834-8773
  • Email: [email protected]

Following the City’s collection schedule and guidelines helps keep Lakeland clean and improves recycling. Contact Solid Waste Services with any other questions.