Duval County

Jacksonville woman says it took city one month to pick up yard waste

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Action News Jax investigates why it took a month for the city of Jacksonville to pick up a local woman’s yard waste.

Crews got it Wednesday, just two hours after Action News Jax got involved.

Army veteran Gary Peacock handled the yard work in his East Arlington household.

But, after his February death - only at the age of 63 - that duty shifted to his wife, Veronica.

“I’m having to do things on my own, or with my neighbor, or with friends, or hiring people out and stuff like that,” Veronica Peacock said. “So, yes, it is very disheartening.”

‘Disheartening,’ as she said she’s dealing with service problems all alone.

“Every time they didn’t pick it up, he would say, ‘You need to call 630-city,’ so I feel like I’m doing him the justice by doing this,” Peacock said.

Peacock said the pile was an eyesore and it was unsafe, so she started contacting the city.

Instead of picking it up, she said they just drove by.

“It’s been five weeks, so five times,” Peacock said.

Peacock said she has been emailing the city since April.

On three separate occasions, the ticket was closed out, but no action was taken.

“I’m very thankful that it’s gone,” Peacock said. “But this seems to be an ongoing issue.”

Action News Jax dug up eight recent emails to Mayor Lenny Curry concerning trash and recycling.

In March, one person wrote, ‘Our yard waste is picked up late weekly. It is simply unacceptable.’

Action News Jax told you about the financial burden the city has taken on during the pandemic.

Despite that, it said it’s at full staff. They’ve even brought in volunteers to deal with an abnormally high recent call

volume.

“I was about to load [the pile] myself and drop it at city hall,” Peacock said.