Recycling FAQs

• What can I recycle curbside?

  All clean and empty plastic containers, paperback books, magazines, newspaper, office paper, junk mail and other fiber products, cereal boxes, pizza boxes, juice and other drink boxes, steel, aluminum and aerosol cans, corrugated cardboard, aluminum pie plates, plastic buckets and pails.

  View Acceptable Materials

• When is my curbside collection day?

  Curbside recycling collection occurs once every week on the same day as your garbage collection. Please refer to our collection day map to identify your collection day.

• What happens if my container is damaged, lost or stolen?

  Your (green) trash and (blue) recycling containers are property of the City of Lakeland and are assigned to a specific customer address. Because every container has a serial number and is electronically tagged, containers are attached to your address. Container problems associated with normal wear and tear will be repaired by the City. However, containers that are stolen or damaged through neglect or misuse will be replaced at the property owners’ expense.

  Residents are responsible for routine maintenance, including keeping the containers clean, removing the containers from the street after collection, and storing the containers in a safe place. 

  NOTE: If your containers are not green and blue, they are not serviced by the City of Lakeland. Contact Polk County Waste Resource Management Division at 863.284.4319 for more information.

• What happens when there is a holiday?

  There are six holidays that could impact your collection schedules: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

  Holiday Schedule for Residential Service

• Do I need to rinse or clean my recyclables before putting them into my recycling cart?

  All recyclable material should be empty of all liquids, solid foods and should be placed in the cart as clean as possible.

  Imagine if you had to store your recycling in your house for several weeks. If you didn’t rinse your containers, the food would attract bugs and vermin. Yuck! The same thing happens in a recycling facility when your leftover food and liquids are in the blue cart. If the food is too caked-on to remove easily, for everyone’s safety, throw it away in your green cart.

  View Acceptable Materials

• What materials cannot be placed in the recycling container?

  Some examples of items/materials that cannot be placed in recycling containers include:

  • Household garbage and diapers
  • Food waste
  • Household and rechargeable batteries
  • Electronics
  • Propane canisters (large and small) used in cooking
  • Needles (sharps)
  • Hazardous waste
  • Yard waste
  • Loose shredded paper 
    • Shredded paper may be recycled if placed in a paper bag.
  • Plastic bags, film or bagged recycling
  • Styrofoam™️
• What if the cardboard I have does not fit into my recycling container?

  These days, we have more cardboard boxes than ever. All cardboard should be flattened, cut smaller or folded and must be put inside the recycling container for collection. You may lay flattened boxes across the top of your container with the lid covering them (see video).

  Any item(s) not inside your recycling container will not be collected.
• What should I do with shredded paper?

  Shredded paper can be recycled and should be placed in a paper bag and closed securely prior to placing in your recycling cart to prevent items from being blown into the street.

  Recycling Events:

  Each year, the City of Lakeland holds an annual ShredFest, a free shredding event for confidential documents to be shredded and recycled. Check the City Calendar of Events for latest date. 

• Why can’t I recycle plastic grocery bags/plastic wrap or bag my recycling?

  You may not place any plastic grocery bags or plastic wrap in your blue recycling cart.

  Local grocery and retail stores have recycling containers located outside their stores for collecting and recycling plastic bags. In addition to plastic bags, Publix Super Markets will accept the following, clean and dry plastic materials in their recycling bins:

  • Plastic packaging from toilet paper, napkins and paper towels
  • Overwrap from shipping cases (such as plastic wrap from a case of water)
  • Dry cleaning bags/protective plastic and newspaper sleeves

  Learn more about Plastic Bags & Film

• Why Can’t I recycle Styrofoam™️?

  The City of Lakeland can no longer recycle any form of Styrofoam in the blue carts.

  Learn more about Styrofoam™️ 

• How do I dispose of hazardous waste such as motor oil & filters, antifreeze, gasoline, brake fluid, paints & stains and fluorescent lamps? How about electronic waste?

  Household chemicals and electronics can cause great risk to collection staff and to our environment if not disposed of properly. These items are accepted free of charge at the Polk County North Central Landfill, located at 7399 Decastro Road, Winter Haven, Florida.

  For more information, contact Polk County Waste Resource Management Division at 863.284.4319.

• Where do I place my wheeled recycling container on collection day?

  Please place your blue and green carts with minimum of three (3) feet between each cart and surrounding objects (mailboxes, cars, carts, trees, etc.):

  

• I have difficulty wheeling my cart to the curb. Does the City provide “front door” service for recycling?

  Assisted or "front door" service for both garbage and recycling collection can be provided to City residents that submit a completed medical waiver collection form.

  Please call our office to talk to a customer service representative at 863.834.8773.

• Is recycling required?

  While the reasons for recycling are many (recycling can save you, and others, in the cost of providing trash collection service), consider that for every ton of garbage disposed of in the County landfill, it costs the City approximately $36. The City of Lakeland spends approximately $2.9 million in disposal fees annually to landfill the waste collected citywide. With mixed recycling by Lakeland residents, trash generation volumes have reduced significantly.

  If you prefer to return the cart to the City of Lakeland, we will accommodate such request. However, the monthly service fee will remain on your bill.