JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – All 15 recycling drop-off sites will close Thursday in Jacksonville and curbside recycling will resume Monday.
Here’s what will happen:
- Service will be once every two weeks, so not everyone’s recycling will be picked up during the first week.
- Residents can call 904-630-CITY (2489) to find out what day recycling will resume in their area. Or, if you go to MyJax and enter your address on the map, it will tell you when your scheduled recycling day is, as well as your scheduled trash and yard waste pickup.
- The same items, such as glass, will still be recycled for now. That could change later this year after Jacksonville City Council members come up with new recommendations about garbage. For now, you can find a full list of which items will be recycled and which will not, along with a list of other rules for trash, bulk items and yard waste, here.
RELATED: How to find out your pickup day when recycling resumes in Jacksonville
The city provided the following answers to frequently asked questions to help residents with the transition:
CAN MY RECYCLING BIN STILL BE USED AS A GARBAGE CAN?
No. Once curbside recycling resumes, garbage will NOT be collected from recycle carts.
COMMON STANDARDS OF SERVICE
The following standards are applicable to all service areas in accordance with Sec. 382.415, Jacksonville Ordinance Code.
- Place all items curbside no later than 6 a.m. on collection day, and no earlier than 5 p.m. the day prior.
- Remove empty receptacles by 6 a.m. the day after collection.
- Items set out for collection must be visible, accessible, and placed three (3) feet away from obstructions such as vehicles, mailboxes, fire hydrants, and utilities.
- Garbage, yard waste and recycling must be kept separate.
- Place items within five (5) feet of the curb/edge of pavement.
- Visit Service Standards to view service standards.
WHY WASTE GETS LEFT BEHIND
Typically, waste isn’t collected because it doesn’t meet service standards. Common mistakes include:
- Items not set out by 6 a.m.
- Materials are not separated by type; garbage cannot be mixed with recycling and/or yard waste
- Prohibited items set out for collection
- Excess size, weight and/or amount
- Automated collection carts are filled over capacity (lids aren’t shut tight) or are placed too close to an obstruction
- Waste is blocked, obstructed or inaccessible for collection (for example: vehicle blocking waste)
HOUSEHOLD GARBAGE AND BULK
Bulk items include furniture, mattresses, rolled carpet/padding, fencing, plywood, treated/painted wood, and non-recyclable glass (such as mirrors). Glass must be wrapped and taped. Extra garbage is not considered bulk and needs to be collected on the next regularly scheduled collection day
AREAS WITHOUT AUTOMATED GARBAGE COLLECTION (RESIDENTS USE THEIR OWN CANS)
- Use tied plastic bags and/or cans with handles and lids
- Bags/cans cannot be more than 45-gallon capacity or weigh more than 40 pounds
- Bulk items are collected weekly on the same day as household garbage
AREAS WITH AUTOMATED GARBAGE COLLECTION (CITY PROVIDED GARBAGE CAN/CART)
- Must use city-issued household garbage cart
- Place cart three (3) feet apart from bulk items or recycling, and away from obstructions, with wheels facing away from the road
- Lid must be fully closed; save excess garbage for the next week
- Bulk items are collected every other week
E-WASTE (Electronic Waste)
E-Wastes are computers, non-flat panel televisions, printers, keyboards, etc.
Duval County residents are encouraged to recycle their electronic wastes (e-wastes) rather than placing them curbside.
- Residents can bring their e-wastes to the city’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 2675 Commonwealth Ave
- Hours of operation are Tuesday-Saturday, 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
- For more information, go to the Solid Waste - Electronic Wastes site or call (904) 387-8847
YARD WASTE
Yard waste set out for collection must be completely natural and vegetative. Do not mix yard waste with garbage, lumber, fencing, recycling or bulk materials.
- NO manufactured wood material, such as plywood
- NO treated or painted wood, such as fencing or landscape timbers
- Five (5) cubic yard limit per week - roughly 30, 32-gallon garbage bags
- Limbs, logs and stumps must be five (5) feet or less in length and less than six (6) inches in diameter
- No single item or container can weigh more than 40 pounds
- It is unlawful for a hired contractor to leave tree debris for the city to collect. [Ord. Sec. 380.206]
APPLIANCES & TIRES
Must schedule collection in advance by calling (904) 630- 2489 (CITY) or by opening a request
- Appliance doors should be securely closed or detached, with food and other materials removed
- Tire collection is limited to four (4) standard vehicle tires, with or without rims
RECYCLING
- Must use city-issued recycling cart with a yellow lid
- Place cart three (3) feet apart from bulk items or garbage and away from obstructions, with wheels facing away from the road
- Lid must be fully closed; save excess recycling for the next recycle collection day
- Ensure items are empty and free from residue
- Do not put recycling in plastic bags!
These items are accepted:
PAPER
- Mail, office and school paper
- Newspapers, magazines, catalogs, phone books
- Paperback books
- Brown paper bags
- Fiberboard boxes
- Corrugated cardboard, flattened and 2′x3′ or smaller
PLASTICS
- Numbered 1-3, 5 and 7
- Water/soda bottles
- Detergent bottles
- Cleaning solution bottles
CARTONS
- Milk and creamer containers
- Juice boxes
- Soup and broth containers
GLASS
- Green, brown or clear bottles and jars (discard lids with garbage)
METAL
- Steel food containers
- Aluminum cans
- Aluminum baking pans
ITEMS SHOULD BE CLEAN, EMPTY, AND DRY.
These items are not accepted:
- Any #4 PLASTICS (LDPE) including cling wrap, sandwich bags, and plastic garbage or grocery bags.
- Any #6 plastics (polystyrene) including Styrofoam, disposable cups and bowls, take-out food containers, packing peanuts, plastic cutlery, hangers, and medicine bottles.
- ANY TYPE OF PLASTIC THAT IS NOT MARKED AS RECYCLABLE
- SHREDDED PAPER
- WEAPONS
- BATTERIES
- FIREWORKS OR FLARES
- NEEDLES
- FOOD OR YARD WASTE
- CABLES OR WIRES
- RUBBER
- AEROSOL CANS
- COLORED GLASS (except brown and green)
Remember, just because an item might contain a recyclable material does not mean it can be recycled. Most recyclable items, including plastics, will be marked with recycling symbol.
