Residents Express Frustration Over New Garbage Pickup Schedule
Many residents of Pensacola are expressing frustration over the city’s recent decision to switch from a twice-a-week garbage pickup schedule to once a week. The change, which was implemented on July 14, has led to confusion and dissatisfaction among local households. Residents have taken to social media to voice their concerns, with some upset about the reduced frequency of pickups and others frustrated by missed collections on their designated day.
The issue gained attention during a Pensacola City Council meeting on July 17, where Councilman Charles Bare described the rollout as “embarrassing.” He apologized to residents in his district for the difficulties caused by the new schedule. “It’s been embarrassing to be a council member,” he said, acknowledging the lack of clear communication.
Pensacola Sanitation Department has faced ongoing challenges with staffing and equipment issues, leading to delays in yard waste pickups. The city hopes that the new one-week garbage pickup schedule will help alleviate these problems, but the initial implementation has not gone smoothly.
Changes in Recycling Programs
In 2023, the city ended its curbside recycling program due to high amounts of unrecyclable materials in the bins. This led to a shift to a twice-a-week garbage pickup schedule. Now, the city is returning to a once-a-week garbage pickup as part of a plan to bring back curbside recycling service. However, many residents were unaware of the change despite multiple announcements, mailers, and media coverage.
Mayor D.C. Reeves first proposed reducing the frequency of garbage pickups over a year ago as the city explored options for a private company to provide recycling services. Last year, the city announced plans to reintroduce curbside recycling using in-house staff and a grant from the Recycling Partnership. This grant includes AI cameras to detect contamination in recycling, helping avoid costly fees.
At the time, Reeves stated that the new plan would include only one garbage pickup per week. Some residents are upset about losing the twice-a-week service, especially since their bills have not changed significantly. Under the new rate structure, customers who do not opt into the recycling service or a second trash can will see a $2.45 reduction in their bill.
Communication Issues and Community Response
Residents have criticized the city for poor communication regarding the new pickup schedule. Councilman Bare admitted he was unaware of his neighborhood’s pickup day, even though he is a city official. “I did not know this was the week that we were going to one pickup,” he said. “I did not know the day my neighborhood was going to do that.”
Pensacola resident Thomas Fisher also voiced his frustration, stating that his neighborhood found out about the change when no trash was picked up on Monday. “I was caught by surprise, and then apparently everybody else was too,” he said.
Councilwoman Jennifer Brahier noted that the city planned a town hall meeting on July 22 to address concerns. She expects a large turnout from upset residents. “There’s no doubt that (garbage pickup) is at the forefront of frustrations,” she said, adding that she received over 11 calls by 11 a.m. the previous day.
Brahier pointed out that while the city sent out a mailer informing residents of the new pickup day, she and many others did not see it. “It wasn’t a few people getting this wrong,” she said. “In my particular area, this was the majority of getting it wrong.”
Apology and Future Plans
Mayor Reeves acknowledged the confusion surrounding the new schedule and took responsibility for the miscommunication. “We notified (customers) in June, but it was in a mailer that probably looked a little too routine, like a Mayor’s neighborhood cleanup,” he said. “So some folks got it, and some might have accidentally tossed it. So we’ll really try to emphasize (the new schedule), and we appreciate your patience.”
Despite the initial setbacks, the city reports that residents are signing up for the curbside recycling service. As of July 14, nearly 1,400 households had signed up. The city aims for at least 5,000 households to participate to make the program financially viable under the new sanitation rate structure.
A communications campaign will be launched as part of the Recycling Partnership grant to encourage more sign-ups and educate residents about acceptable recyclables. The city has also adjusted its recycling rules, accepting paper products, cardboard, aluminum and steel cans, and plastic bottles, jars, and tubs. Glass and metal pots and pans are no longer accepted, as there is no market for these items.
For now, the city will continue offering staffed Saturday recycling drop-off locations at the Sanitation Department on Palafox Street and an unstaffed location on Summit Boulevard. These locations may be reassessed as curbside recycling becomes more widely adopted.
