Polk County Landfill Fees Rose Oct. 1, With 5% Increases Locked In Each Year Through 2030

Hauling a ton of garbage to the Polk County landfill will cost more starting Oct. 1, with the price set to climb again every year through 2030.

Polk County Government announced the new disposal rates Sept. 29. The new rates apply at the North Central Landfill and the county’s transfer station, and they cover the three categories most Polk County households and contractors typically haul: garbage, construction and demolition debris, and yard waste.

The New Rate Increase

Garbage and construction and demolition debris both move from $46 per ton to $48.30 per ton. Yard waste goes from $36.50 per ton to $38.33 per ton.

A $10 minimum fee applies per transaction, so a small load of brush still costs $10 even when the weight would price lower.

The county’s posted rate schedule also lists flat charges separate from the per-ton rates, including $27.50 for scrap metal, $27.50 for appliance items such as refrigerators and freezers with the Freon removed, and $300 for passenger vehicle tires.

Where Polk County Residents Can Drop Off Waste

Not every county site takes household loads, so it’s worth a phone call before driving out.

The North Central Landfill at 7425 De Castro Road in Winter Haven serves commercial haulers bringing in Polk County material. It is open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

The North Central Transfer Station at 3131 K-Ville Ave. in Auburndale is the site for Polk County residents. It is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

The county also runs the Northeast Landfill Customer Convenience Center at 4001 Bannon Island Road in Haines City, which it lists as a pilot program for Polk County residents. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Between them, the county’s sites accept garbage, yard trash, construction and demolition debris, refrigerators and freezers, air conditioning units, tires and scrap metal, along with recyclables including plastics, metals, cardboard, paper and glass.

Why the Fees Went Up

The increase decision is not new on the agenda. The Polk County Board of County Commissioners approved the resolution behind it on May 20, 2025, in a unanimous vote, and that resolution laid out the whole schedule rather than a single bump.

Before the first step took effect in October 2025, Polk County’s tipping fees had been held flat for more than 13 years while operating costs rose. The county has pointed to rising operational costs and infrastructure maintenance needs as the reasons for the increase, and has tied the added revenue in part to its storm debris cleanup reserves.

What Comes Next

The 2025 resolution sets an additional 5% increase on each of the three per-ton categories every Oct. 1 through 2030. That means four more scheduled increases after this one, each one compounding on the last.

For a household clearing a yard after a storm or a small contractor pricing a demolition job, the per-ton number on the scale house ticket will keep rising on a known calendar.

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Sources: “Solid Waste Disposal Fees Increased,” Polk County Government, polkfl.gov, Sept. 29, 2026; “Solid Waste Disposal Fees Slated to Increase October 1,” Polk County Government, polkfl.gov, May 21, 2025; “Polk County Landfill and Transfer Station,” Polk County Government, polkfl.gov, undated.