JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — People living in parts of North and Northwest Jacksonville will soon see a new service provider to haul their trash and recycling.
Beginning Oct. 1, Meridian Services will take over Republic Services' routes, according to a spokesperson from the City of Jacksonville. The move has been discussed for a few months, but the contract with Republic does not expire until the first, the city said.
Trash pickup has been a big issue for people living across all of Duval County, according to complaints from First Coast News viewers in recent weeks. One Jacksonville waste pickup contractor told us the problem is because there is a nationwide labor shortage resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The City issued this statement after being asked about the delays in garbage pickup:
"As is still the case with a multitude of industries across the country, private solid waste companies are struggling to find and keep employees. The companies we contract with have expressed difficulty with being properly staffed, and tell us that is leading to delayed pickups. This has been an ongoing issue. We continue to see a large increase with yard waste, which causes trucks to fill up faster than in the winter months. Regardless, we understand this can be frustrating for customers and we are working on solutions. In the meantime, many City employees in our Solid Waste division are working seven days a week to fill the gaps. We greatly appreciate the patience of our citizens during this time. To report a problem, please use the MyJax app or Myjax.custhelp.com. Citizens can also call 904-630-CITY (2489) but may experience wait times. This is how we track missed pickups and know when to enforce fines against contractors.
Actions we have taken to address these challenges:
- Utilizing Solid Waste Division crews to support contract haulers
- Utilizing other department/agency employees to support contract haulers
- Waste Pro (services Southeast portion) is evaluating a potential Yard Waste Temporary Debris Site.
- Continuing to pursue a Permanent Solid Waste Transfer Station"
Meridian has been training on the city's system for a couple of weeks now, according to the city.
To report a problem, the city of Jacksonville is asking you to please use the MyJax app or https://myjax.custhelp.com/. This is how they track missed pickups and know when to enforce fines against contractors.