Pensacola Faces 'Embarrassing' Trash Pickup Rollout as Recycling Returns

Residents Express Frustration Over New Garbage Pickup Schedule

Many residents in Pensacola are expressing frustration over the city's decision to switch to a weekly garbage pickup schedule and the lack of clear communication about the change. The shift has caused confusion among residents, with some upset over the reduced frequency of pickups and others frustrated by missed collections on their designated day.

The discontent has spilled onto social media, where residents have shared their frustrations. At a recent Pensacola City Council meeting on July 17, Councilman Charles Bare described the implementation of the new system as “embarrassing.” He apologized to residents of District 2 for the ongoing issues, acknowledging that the situation has been difficult for both him and his constituents.

Pensacola’s Sanitation Department has faced challenges with staffing and equipment in recent months, which have contributed to delays in collecting yard waste. City officials hope the new garbage pickup schedule, which started on July 14, will help resolve these issues. However, the first week of the new system has not gone smoothly, with many residents reporting missed pickups and confusion over their schedules.

Changes to Recycling Services

In 2023, the city ended its curbside recycling program due to high levels of unrecyclable materials in recycling bins. This led 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. However, many residents were unaware of this change despite multiple announcements, mailers sent to households, and media coverage.

Mayor D.C. Reeves first proposed reducing the frequency of garbage pickups more than a year ago as the city explored partnerships with private companies for 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 would fund AI cameras to detect contamination in recycling and prevent costly fees.

At the time, Reeves indicated that the new plan would include a single garbage pickup per week. Some residents are upset about losing the twice-a-week service while their bills remain largely unchanged. Under the new rate structure, customers who do not opt into recycling or choose a second trash can will see a $2.45 reduction in their bill.

Communication Gaps and Resident Concerns

Residents have criticized the city for poor communication regarding the new pickup schedule. During the council meeting, Bare admitted he was unaware of the specific pickup day for his neighborhood, leading to missed collections. He emphasized the need for better communication, stating that the single mailer sent out was insufficient.

Thomas Fisher, a Pensacola resident, attended the meeting to demand answers after his neighborhood experienced a missed pickup. He said the change was unexpected, and it appeared many others were caught off guard as well.

Councilwoman Jennifer Brahier noted that the city is planning a town hall meeting on July 22 to address concerns. She mentioned that she received numerous calls from frustrated residents, highlighting the widespread confusion. Brahier also pointed out that the city managed to send out new bills for increased commercial property costs without issue, but the same level of attention was not given to the garbage pickup changes.

Accountability and Future Steps

Reeves acknowledged the confusion surrounding the rollout and took responsibility for the miscommunication. He stated that the city had notified residents in June, but the mailer may have been overlooked. The city is now working to emphasize the new schedule and improve communication.

Despite the challenges, there are signs that residents are engaging with the new recycling program. As of July 14, nearly 1,400 households had signed up for curbside recycling. The city hopes to reach 5,000 sign-ups to make the program financially viable under the new sanitation rate structure. A communications campaign, funded by the Recycling Partnership, will be launched to educate residents on what can and cannot be recycled.

The city has also adjusted its recycling guidelines, allowing only 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. This decision was made based on expert advice to ensure that materials are actually recycled.

For now, the city will continue offering staffed Saturday drop-off locations at the Sanitation Department on Palafox Street and an unstaffed location on Summit Boulevard. Officials will reassess these locations as the curbside recycling program expands. If the program proves successful, the staffed drop-off location may be closed in the future.