ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Dozens of residents in Orange County are not following the county’s new rules for trash pickup.
Thousands of residents were recently moved to automated garbage collection to save time and money, but despite instructions from the county, there were a number of trash cans facing the wrong direction and some homes with trash stacked up next to the cans on Tuesday.
County officials said the rule breakers slow down the trash collecting process.
The county has placed fliers and mailed information about the curbside pickup, but now that the program has started, there are many not following directions.
The curbside pickup allows one operator in each truck to drive home to home, pick up the county-issued trash can and place it in the back of the truck with a mechanical arm.
“I think the biggest issue is going to be the larger items that you want to set out that you cannot fit into the receptacle,” said Orange County resident Greg Marksberry.
But issues may have several residents left with trash that won’t be picked up.
“We have got our glitches and our transitional stuff,” said Jim Becker, manager of Orange County’s Solid Waste Division.
Despite the directions provided by Orange County, officials said many residents continue to keep garbage outside the containers, facing the wrong direction and too close to other objects on the curb, forcing the single operator to get out of the truck and dump the containers.
“With so much garbage out because of the holidays, I don't think he will make it to the end of the route today,” said resident Haran Shirley.
County officials said they would pick up the trash placed outside of the containers this week only.
Some residents still find it hard to believe the new system will be as efficient as officials expect
“It's probably three to four times slower than the fella that used to jump off the back of the truck,” said Shirley.
County officials said residents can expect any trash that wasn’t picked up Tuesday to be picked up Wednesday.
WFTV
