JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Mayor Lenny Curry and other city leaders announced Monday that recycling pick-ups will be put on pause in the City of Jacksonville.
It comes as a solution to the waste collection issues that have been plaguing the city, with people in some areas reporting that they haven't had trash picked up in weeks.
"Our citizens are understandably upset," Curry said. "They're upset because this is a basic service that is paid for by their taxes."
The City of Jacksonville says it will suspend curbside recycling collection services starting Monday, Oct. 4. Citizens can use their recycling can as a trash can and put it out with their trash, the city says.
The suspension will allow crews to dedicate limited resources and personnel to the collection of garbage and yard waste, said city leaders.
Curry says what Jacksonville is experiencing is also occurring around the country due to national labor shortages.
"This has been a difficult decision," Curry said. "We understand that this is frustrating and are working on multiple fronts to improve waste collection services. We look forward to the day we can resume curbside recycling collection, and we thank citizens for their patience during this challenging time.”
Patrick Laffey has seven bins of yard waste outside his home and has been waiting for the city to collect his yard waste since July.
The Westside resident said he has seven garbage cans sitting out by the curb. Laffey mentioned how his garbage was supposed to be picked up last week.
"We have a small neighborhood. It's only 41 houses and it's a lot of garbage," Laffey added.
If people would like to continue recycling, you can take items to one of 14 recycling centers that will be set up around the city for people to drop-off items if they wish.
There is no cost. Hours for recycling drop-off will be Monday through Saturday from sunrise to sunset.
Some are claiming that they heard that the recycling drop-off sites will just take everything to the landfill anyway. This is incorrect. The recyclable material collected from those sites will be transported and delivered to the City’s contracted Material Recycling Facility.
The recycling drop-off begins on Monday, October 4.
Recycling drop-off sites include:
- Blue Cypress Regional Park- 4112 University Blvd. N. – 32277
- William F. Sheffield Regional Park - 3659 New Berlin Rd. – 32226
- Girvin Road Landfill - 515 Girvin Rd. – 32225
- Southside Estates Elementary Park - 9775 Ivey Rd. – 32246
- Earl Johnson Memorial Park - 5308 St. Augustine Rd. – 32207
- Palmetto Leaves Regional Park- 5760 Greenland Rd. – 32257
- A. Philip Randolph Heritage Park - 1096 A. Philip Randolph Blvd. – 32206
- Dinsmore Playground Park- 10632 Old Kings Rd. – 32219
- Hammond Park - 2142 Melson Ave. – 32254
- Mary Lena Gibbs Community Center - 6974 Wilson Blvd. – 32210
- Fort Family Regional Park - 8000 Baymeadows Rd. E. – 32256
- Normandy Park - 1728 Lindsey Rd. – 32221
- Castaway Island Preserve - 2885 San Pablo Rd. S. – 32225
- Riverside Park - 753 Park St. – 32204
For additional information, please see the attached FAQs or call 904-630-2489
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