Can a junk removal company haul an old above-ground oil tank in Polk County?

It depends on whether the tank has been properly drained and cleaned. An empty, residue-free above-ground tank can often be hauled as scrap metal. A tank with fuel residue or unknown contents requires licensed hazmat handling before a standard junk crew can touch it.

How much does it cost to remove an old metal tank or drums in Lakeland, FL?

For empty, clean metal tanks and drums that qualify as scrap, removal typically runs $150–$400 depending on size and accessibility. If hazmat pre-cleaning is required first, that third-party cost is separate and can range from $300 to over $1,000 before hauling begins.

What should I do if I don't know what's in the drums I found on my property?

Don't move them, puncture them, or try to empty them yourself. Contact Polk County's hazardous waste line or a licensed environmental remediation company first to identify the contents. Once cleared, a junk hauler can take the empty containers.

Will Lakeland Junk Removal take rusty metal debris and scrap from my yard?

Yes. Rusty metal, old farm equipment parts, fencing, corrugated roofing scraps, and similar debris are all fair game for our crews. We haul it to appropriate recycling and scrap facilities.

How do I know if my old tank needs hazmat clearance before removal?

If the tank ever held fuel, chemicals, pesticides, or any unknown liquid—and still shows residue, odor, or sludge—it needs hazmat clearance first. If it's a clean, empty water or air tank with no chemical history, a standard junk crew can usually handle it.

Found an Old Tank or Mystery Drums on Your Polk County Property? Here's What a Junk Hauler Can (and Can't) Take

Inherited a rusty tank or mystery drums on your Lakeland property? Find out exactly what a junk removal crew can haul—and when you need a specialist first.

That rusted drum sitting behind your shed might be completely harmless—or it might be the one thing no junk hauler in Polk County can legally touch without a hazmat team going in first.

Finding old tanks, steel drums, or mystery containers on a Polk County property is more common than you'd think. Rural land near Mulberry, Bartow, and the outskirts of Lakeland has a long agricultural and industrial history. Old fuel tanks, chemical drums, and irrigation equipment get left behind when farms change hands, estates settle, or properties sit vacant for years. Here's the honest breakdown of what a standard junk removal crew like ours can haul—and when you need to call someone else before we show up.

The Big Rule: Empty and Clean vs. Unknown Contents

This is the line every reputable hauler draws, and it's not negotiable.

What we CAN haul:

Empty, clean above-ground metal tanks (water storage, air tanks, propane tanks that have been properly purged and certified empty)
Steel drums that are visibly empty, residue-free, and odor-free
Old farm equipment and scrap metal debris
Rusty fencing, corrugated metal roofing, pipe sections
Concrete rubble and yard debris surrounding old tank sites
Old appliances left near outbuildings

What requires hazmat clearance FIRST:

Above-ground fuel oil or diesel tanks with any residue or sludge inside
Drums with unknown contents, labels, or odors
Any container that previously held pesticides, herbicides, or industrial chemicals
Tanks with visible staining on surrounding soil (that's a red flag for contamination)

A standard junk removal crew is not licensed for hazardous material handling. No reputable hauler will tell you otherwise. If someone quotes you a flat rate to "just haul it off" without asking what was in it, walk away.

What the Process Looks Like in Polk County

Here's a realistic sequence for a property in Lakeland or the surrounding area:

Identify the tank's history. What did the previous owner use it for? Check any paperwork from a property purchase or estate. Look for any labeling on the drum or tank.
If contents are unknown or hazardous, contact Polk County Solid Waste or a licensed environmental remediation company first. Polk County operates a Household Hazardous Waste program—they can help you figure out next steps for smaller quantities. For larger tanks, a private environmental firm handles decommissioning and cleaning.
Once cleared, call us. After a tank has been drained, cleaned, and certified safe by a licensed professional, we can haul the empty metal shell, surrounding debris, and any related scrap off your property.

Real Cost Ranges to Expect

Item	Typical Cost in Polk County
Empty, clean metal drum removal (1–4 drums)	$100–$250
Small above-ground metal tank (clean, empty)	$150–$350
Large scrap metal tank + surrounding debris	$300–$600+
Hazmat pre-cleaning (third-party, not us)	$300–$1,500+ depending on size
Concrete pad demolition + debris hauling	$400–$900

These are honest ranges based on typical Polk County jobs. Final pricing depends on weight, accessibility (is it behind a fence, in a swamp-adjacent back corner?), and how much surrounding debris needs to go with it. We give you a firm upfront quote before anything is loaded.

The Scrap Metal Angle

Here's something most people don't realize: a clean, empty above-ground metal tank is actually scrap metal. Steel and aluminum have recycling value, and we haul metal debris to appropriate scrap and recycling facilities. That's better for the environment and means you're not just dumping—you're actually keeping it out of a landfill.

If you've got other metal debris on the property—old farm equipment, wire fencing, pipe, corrugated roofing—bundle it into the same job and you'll save on the trip cost. Our full-service junk removal and construction debris removal teams handle mixed loads all the time.

Estate and Rural Property Cleanouts

A lot of tank-and-drum situations come up during estate cleanouts, where a family is clearing a property that's been in agricultural use for decades. In those cases, the tank is usually just one part of a much bigger cleanout—sheds full of old tools, broken equipment, piles of lumber, old appliances, and general decades-of-accumulation debris.

Our estate and whole-house cleanout service is built for exactly that kind of job. We can assess the whole property, separate what needs hazmat review from what we can haul immediately, and give you a single clear plan so you're not making fifteen phone calls.

The Bottom Line for Polk County Property Owners

If you've got a mystery tank or drums on your land, don't panic—but don't ignore it either, and definitely don't try to move it yourself until you know what's in it. Get it identified, get it cleared if needed, and then call us to haul the rest.

For everything that qualifies—scrap metal, empty containers, surrounding debris, and the general property cleanout that usually goes along with it—we're ready. Serving Lakeland and all of Polk County with upfront pricing, no surprise fees, and same-week availability on most jobs.

Get a free, upfront quote for your property and let's figure out exactly what we can take off your hands. You can also browse our full list of services or learn more about serving your part of Polk County on our areas page.