Green Cove Springs, Fla -- Clay County commissioners voted on an agreement that will bring changes to garbage and recycling services on October 1.
Through a competitive bid process, FCC Environmental Services provided the best proposal and will be the new hauler providing curbside service in Clay County. The county will join many others across the state and move to an automated garbage collection service. Also, in a decision that was based upon excessive and unprecedented cost increases to our residents, curbside recycling will no longer be available under this new agreement. Residents will still have curbside recycling service for high-value items until the current contract with Waste Management expires on September 30th. Any future recycling options will be reviewed and brought to commissioners for consideration.
Recycling
This contract does not include curbside recycling. Over the course of several Board of County Commissioner meetings, commissioners discussed the high cost to residents for collecting and processing recyclables. In September of 2023, the county’s recycling processor (GEL Corp) raised the county’s processing fee from a credit of $6/ton to a charge of $85/ton (a swing of $91/ton). Adding curbside recycling would have increased the cost to residents now, and potentially significantly more over the ten-year contract. Under the new contract, the county may restart the curbside recycling service with a one-year notice to the hauler, FCC Environmental Services. Commissioners acknowledged only about one-third of Clay residents recycle, but the cost increase for recycling would be paid by all. Ultimately, a majority vote by commissioners determined curbside collection would not be included in the agreement.
What can residents expect from the new service?
Garbage pickup once a week
Residents will get a 95-gallon wheeled cart with an attached lid
Yard trash pickup once a week
Bulk item pickup once a month
Additional services to accommodate large amounts of trash or assistance to residents who can’t bring their cart to the curb are available.
Old trash cans can be used for yard trash, and only paper bags, no plastic bags, can be used.
What’s the cost?
The curbside collection assessment of $262.00 will go into effect October 1. The disposal fee is $96. The total of $358 will be included in the November property tax bill.
Recycling high-value items
In December, the county released a campaign to educate residents on a shift of what recyclable items are now accepted and why. The focus is on high-value items:
Clean flat corrugated cardboard up to 3'x3' (NO PIZZA OR CEREAL BOXES)
Only #1 and #2 plastic bottles and jugs (e.g., water and soda bottles, milk and laundry jugs, etc.)
Metal cans
This new method of recycling is still in effect until September 30th. The County must focus on high-value recyclable items to avoid a $232,489 annual cost increase. This is a local, state, and nationwide problem that requires us all to recycle correctly.
What's next?
Over the next several months, we’ll release more information about the new services, when your cart will arrive, how to sign up for additional services, how to find out your pickup days, how to report an issue, and more. If you have any questions, please email askclay@claycountygov.com.