JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It's been about a month and a half since the City of Jacksonville suspended recycle pick-up service.
Since then, those wanting to separate their waste have to drop off recyclables at 14 different sites around the city.
The On Your Side team found out that it might not change anytime soon.
Esther Pena and her husband have been using the Sheffield Park drop-off location near their Northside home.
“Because I feel guilty to put the garbage and the recycle at the same time. I think that’s not fair," homeowner Pena said.
When the recycle pick-up first stopped, it was so the city and its contracted haulers could catch up on yard waste pick-up.
When the On Your Side team first spoke to Northside homeowner Susan Russell back in September, she said her yard waste had been sitting on the curb for about six weeks.
She’s been pleased with the new contractor that's hauling for parts of North and Northwest Jacksonville, Meridian Services. Russell says besides one missed pick-up of her yard waste last week, the hauler has been coming by every week.
"Whatever people put out, they picked it up," Russell explained. "Except for the recycle, which is still not resolved."
Like Pena, Russell misses the pick-up service.
Mayor Lenny Curry’s office sent the On Your Side team the following statement:
The temporary solution to suspend curbside recycling is working. We have made substantial progress and are encouraged by these improvements. Regardless, we understand this is frustrating for our citizens and appreciate their patience during this challenging time. It’s our goal to get recycling back as soon as we can but after speaking with our contractors this week, they are still having difficulty finding licensed workers and are still understaffed, as are many industries across the country.
The city council member representing Pena and Russell’s district, Al Ferraro, says the change has been an improvement, but hopes the city doesn’t have to rely on the green bins for long.
“People are really tired of it being out here in the park. They really want them in an industrial/commercial area if it’s going to be picked up this way," Ferraro said. "Getting it back to being picked up at the homes is ultimately the goal we’d like to see.”
Pena says she’ll continue using the drop-off location at the park, but doesn’t want to get billed for a service she isn’t receiving.
“I am the taxpayer. If you aren’t going to pick up the recycle, give me back my money then," she explained.
