INVESTIGATES: Jacksonville residents without curbside recycling for the holidays

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It’s the time of the year for holiday parties and gift-giving... and all the trash that comes with them. But one thing will be different this holiday season - no curbside recycling.

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That means for many, their waste will all be headed to the landfill, despite the fact it can be recycled.

Dale Shaffer is a staunch recycler, he’s been doing this for four decades. That means he’s willing to drive to drop-off locations now that the city no longer picks it up. But he knows not everyone has the same level of commitment when it comes to throwing things away. “I see them rolling their recycle bins out with the yellow top,” he says about his neighbors, “and the garbage truck, he’ll collect the garbage but he’ll also get the recycle... and it goes to the landfill.”

Republic Service’s own Jacksonville survey shows why: Last year 15% of respondents said they don’t recycle more because they’re too lazy. Another 20% say it’s because of a lack of convenient access. The lack of curbside pickup has only made matters worse.

From a trash perspective it couldn’t come at a worse time. “Volume increases,” says Jason Graves, Jacksonville Division Manager for Republic. “People are home over the holidays, kids are home from school, so the household generates more waste and recyclables. And we do get more material coming in.”

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According to a survey by OnePoll, Americans create up to 43% more waste over the holiday or 29 pounds per week. Much of that trash is made up of items you COULD recycle, but many won’t because they have to drive it somewhere.

Three of the top five holiday waste items are recyclable: wrapping paper, gift bags and tissue paper. But with no date in sight for the return of curbside pickup, much of what could be recycled will end up in the landfill.

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