Safety Harbor Switches to Streamlined Recycling Service

On September 30, Safety Harbor will officially enter a new era of trash and recycling collection. 

That’s the day the city’s new ‘1-1-1’collection policy formally goes into effect. 

The system calls for one pickup per resident per week of trash, recyclables and yard waste, cutting down on costs associated with multiple trash pickups while streamlining the recycling process.

“We’re trying to make things easier for residents while keeping costs and operating expenses from going up,” Safety Harbor recycling coordinator Sherry Kennedy told Patch.

“By going to the 1-1-1 system, we will be using the same truck for trash and recycling collection, eliminating the need for two additional trucks."

The key to the new system is the single stream recycling process, which the city began rolling out in February. 

Residents were given a 64-gallon bin that can take a variety of items, such as glass, plastics and cardboard, simplifying the recycling process and decreasing the amount of regular trash residents put out every week. 

By decreasing the amount of trash, the city is able to take fewer trips to the Pinellas County landfill, saving money on fees and fuel costs.

"Some residents are upset that they are losing one trash pickup a week," Kennedy said. "But when they see the recycling container filled with stuff that used to go in their trash, they find out they don't need to put garbage out twice a week."

"Actually, they're still getting twice a week pickup, it's just two different pickups."

The city has set up a special website and hotline (727-724-1560) to help people with any questions or concerns they might have.

Officials believe once the system is in place, most residents will appreciate and embrace the new collection process.

"We want to go to a more productive recycling program," Public Works director Ray Boler told the City Commission on Monday. 

"We're striving to be the greenest city we can be."