ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — Garbage: It’s a dirty topic, but we all deal with it.
And that garbage truck has been behind schedule in many areas.
The delay is actually because of the pandemic.
More trash sits on the curbs, and there are delays in picking it up. They are both byproducts of the pandemic.
Greg Caldwell with the Public Works Department in St. Johns County said the reason people have trash is that "people have time!"
People have more time at home right now. That means they’re cooking more, cleaning more and setting out more for pickup.
Caldwell said people are also taking time during COVID-19 outbreak to clean out their attics, closets and garages.
Recycling bins are also fuller and the yard trash piles are bigger.
Bill Brinkley is the General Manager for Republic Services in North Florida.
He said, "Ever since the stay-at-home order went into effect in late March/early April, volumes have been up 30% or higher."
And as if more trash and yard waste weren’t enough of a burden, the pandemic is creating a smaller workforce.
"And when we have drivers who have symptoms we follow the CDC guidelines," Brinkley said. "They go get tested, they stay at home until they are cleared and the shortage creates a bit of a challenge at times. Then we bring in drivers from other divisions, but they sometimes simply don’t know the areas as well."
More trash and fewer workers to collect it are causing delays in your pickup times, sometimes by half a day, according to Caldwell.
"What they would pick up today on Friday, if they’re not able to pick up everything today, they’ll use Saturday to finish the Friday routes."
St. Johns County is asking for your patience.
Brinkley said picking up household waste is the priority. After that comes recycling and yard debris is last on the list.
"It’s the yard waste piles that get escalated, and get out of control for the routine pick up," Caldwell said.
Both men say your trash, recycling and yard waste will get picked up, but it may be delayed.