Residential Curbside Garbage Collection

Residential garbage is collected curbside from Sun 'n Lake residences by Highlands County through a franchise agreement with Waste Connections of Florida. The residential collection program is supported by a non-ad valorem assessment of $210, which is collected on your annual County property tax bill. 

The contract with Waste Connections includes curbside collection of residential garbage and yard waste.  In addition, up to six tires, bulk items and white goods are collected curbside.

Garbage materials and either yard waste or bulk items are collected on the same day, depending on your pick up schedule.

The weekly pickup day for all Sun 'n Lake residents is Thursday.

Yard waste and bulk waste will alternate every other week on your trash pick up day.
To report a missed pickup, click here to report online, or call Waste Connections at 863-655-0005.

There are four holidays through the year that impact collection schedules: 
New Year's Day - Independence Day - Thanksgiving - Christmas
During these weeks, trash pickup will be delayed by one day.

Click here to download the 2024 Bulk and Yard Waste Calendar.


WHAT IS CONSIDERED YARD WASTE?

Yard waste means decomposable waste materials generated by yard and lawn care and includes leaves, grass trimmings, brush, wood chips, and shrub and tree trimmings. Yard waste shall not include roots or stumps that exceed six inches in diameter. There is a two cubic yard maximum.

Yard waste needs to be placed in a separate container, bagged, or tied in bundles; Maximum 50 lbs. per bundle, bag or container please.

WHAT IS CONSIDERED BULK WASTE?
Bulk waste is considered to be household items, such as mattresses*, couches, chairs, coffee tables, bed frames, rolled-up carpet, old toilets and more, that are too large to fit in the provided cart. Extra garbage bags are not considered bulk waste. There is a two cubic yard maximum.

Couches and other large items do not need to be called into Waste Connections for pickup.

Construction and demolition debris will not be picked up with bulk waste.

*ALL MATTRESSES must be wrapped in plastic.

WHITE GOODS/APPLIANCES & TIRES
White goods are household appliances like refrigerators, freezers, stoves and ovens. These items should not be placed out with other bulk items. 

For pickup of white goods/appliances AND tires, call 863-655-0005 (Waste Connections).

For more information, visit www.highlandsfl.gov/departments/solid_waste/garbage_collection_curbside/index.php or call 863-402-6505.

Recycling Dropoff Program
Highlands County no longer offers curbside recycling pickup. Sun 'n Lake residents may drop off collected recyclable materials to any of the County's recycling drop-off sites.

The nearest site to Sun 'n Lake is located in Avon Park.

AVON PARK SITE
The Avon Park recycling site is in downtown Avon Park at 100 S. Glenwood Ave., with the entrance near the Eddie Cannon Street/South Prospect Avenue intersection.

Hours of operation for Avon Park:
2-5:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays
8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays
Residents will ONLY be able to bring items to the recycling center during the posted hours of operation. 

Each site accepts plastic bottles, jugs and jars, steel and aluminum cans, clean flattened cardboard, newspaper, junk mail, office paper (not shredded) and other non-coated paper. A separate bin is available for glass.

Attendants at the site are able to answer questions, help residents deposit the items that can be recycled, and make sure the items are deposited in the appropriate recycling containers to avoid contamination.

Plastic bags are not an accepted recyclable item and are not allowed inside the bins. They can be used to bring recycling items to the sites, and then be reused or thrown in the trash afterward.

For more information visit www.highlandsfl.gov/departments/solid_waste/recycling.php or call 863-402-6505