Polk County officials announced Thursday that the county‑run trash convenience center on Bannon Island Road in Haines City will cease operations on Dec. 31, ending a one‑year pilot that began in June. The decision follows a sharp increase in illegal dumping at the site, which jumped from 16% of observed piles to 30% in just a few months.
Why the pilot is ending
The facility, which required a modest fee for use, collected roughly 900 tons of waste and averaged about 20 vehicles per day. While the center offered a shorter 25‑minute drive for many northeast Polk County residents compared with the 45‑minute trip to the Winter Haven landfill on Castro Road, county solid‑waste director Brian Cogswell said the rise in unlawful trash piles and a lower than expected daily visitor count forced the county to act.
“Some people just have a mentality that it’s okay to do,” Cogswell explained. “And how do you reach those people? We’re going to have to investigate future ways of doing that.”
Fiscal impact
By closing the pilot early, Polk County projects a net savings of between $200,000 and $300,000. Those funds, according to county officials, will be redirected to other essential services and to bolster enforcement against illegal dumping.
Resident reaction
Local residents expressed disappointment at the loss of the convenient drop‑off point. Davenport resident Jennifer Jones praised the shorter drive the center provided. “I love the dump. I’m sorry it’s closing because we have to drive all the way down to Castro Road,” she said. “It will be such an inconvenience.” Jones and other community members are urging the county to consider additional, accessible locations to keep waste disposal convenient and lawful.
What’s next for waste collection?
After the closure, residents will need to transport large items to the Winter Haven landfill, which handles up to 900 vehicles daily. County officials are exploring alternative strategies to curb illegal dumping, including the possibility of loosening restrictions on curbside pickups and evaluating additional drop‑off sites.
Polk County’s solid‑waste department emphasized that the pilot’s early termination does not signal a reduction in overall waste‑management services, but rather a reallocation of resources to more effective, fiscally responsible solutions.
Timeline
The Bannon Island Road facility will remain open for public use until Dec. 31. After that date, the county will fully transition waste‑disposal operations back to the Winter Haven landfill while continuing to assess long‑term options for convenient, legal trash disposal across the region.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
