This will be the first increase to the disposal fees in more than 13 years. Steadily rising operational costs have resulted in the necessary increase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fees for solid waste and construction and demolition debris will increase from $36.50 to $46 per ton and yard waste disposal fees will increase from $22 to $36.50 per ton, effective Oct. 1. The fees for both solid and yard waste will increase by 5% each year for the next five years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen operating costs steadily increase while our revenue, our tipping fees per ton have been held consistent,\u201d said Dale Henderson, the county\u2019s Solid Waste Director. \u201cI think it is fair to say that we were able to do that to the benefit of the residents and businesses of Polk County but now we have to focus on the future and what the future will bring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Commissioner Michael Scott said he understood the need to increase the fees but was leery of increasing the fees by too much, too quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think $46 is the pain point,\u2019\u2019 he said adding that most people would accept a gradual increase as opposed to doubling the costs at one time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A percentage of the disposal fees will also help fund the county\u2019s clean up and recovery efforts from natural disasters such as the hurricanes that hit Polk County last year. The increase will help to ensure there is at least $60 million in the clean-up and recovery funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
County Manager Bill Beasley told the commissioners it can cost up to as much as $30 million in clean-up expenses after a hurricane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Polk County Government, FL: Bartow, Fla. (May 21, 2025) \u2013 Polk County Board of County Commissioners unanimously supported increasing the solid waste disposal fees at the county\u2019s North Central Landfill during the Tuesday, May 20 board meeting. This will be the first increase to the disposal fees in more than 13 years. Steadily rising operational costs […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":77622,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1277,1278,1394,1395,60,627,264,1393],"class_list":{"0":"post-77624","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-featured","8":"tag-county-commission","9":"tag-county-commission-meeting","10":"tag-fee","11":"tag-fees","12":"tag-polk-county","13":"tag-polk-county-government-florida","14":"tag-solid-waste","15":"tag-solid-waste-disposal"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winterhavendaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/img_7081-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1","aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t![](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winterhavendaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/img_7081-2-1.jpg?resize=696%2C365&ssl=1\")
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