Polk County Encourages Early Storm Property Prep with $10 Yard Waste Drop-off Rate

Published: May 8, 2026

Bartow, Fla. (May 8, 2026) — With hurricane season on the horizon, Polk County is offering a $10 flat fee to those residents who want to prepare their property early and self-haul their yard waste to the county’s disposal site.

This option is available to those who want to get a jumpstart on prep. Residential yard waste collection will continue as scheduled. Currently, Polk County Solid Waste residential customers may place up to four bags of yard waste at the curb weekly. Those choosing to self-haul yard waste to Polk’s North Central Transfer Station located at 3131 K-Ville Ave. in Auburndale, may take advantage of the reduced rate from now until Monday, June 1 at 4 p.m.

At the May 5 board meeting, Commissioner Mike Scott encouraged residents to take advantage of the program and acknowledged the great opportunity to not only save money, but to be proactive ahead of the storm season.

“Commissioners have offered this reduced rate to encourage residents to prepare as much as possible ahead of the hurricane season. A lot of times folks will wait until there’s a tropical system brewing or even until a hurricane is named to begin preparing their property, cutting back branches and removing compromised limbs. Now is the perfect time to prepare,” said Solid Waste Director Brian Cogswell.

Know the following before you go to the North Central Transfer Station:

• Residents must show a valid Florida driver’s license with a Polk County address or proof of residency via a utility bill or other document.
• Yard waste may be delivered in anything from a pick-up truck to a 20-foot trailer.
• It is recommended that loads be covered with a tarp to keep the load secured.
• Dump trailers are not allowed.
• Commercial and small business haulers are not eligible for the flat fee.

For more information, visit polkwastewise.net or www.polkfl.gov or call 863-284-4319.

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Tags: NCTS, solid waste