The Clay County Board of Commissioners announced curbside recycling collections will be temporarily suspended in all unincorporated areas of Clay County and the city of Keystone Heights starting August 16.
The service is being halted amid waste collection difficulties brought on by a solid waste industry labor shortage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The county commissioners decided to halt recycling collections so resources could be dedicated to yard waste and garbage collection.
Green Cove Springs, Orange Park, and Penney Farms will not be affected by the suspension because they are under different waste collection programs than the rest of the county.
To make up for halting collections, the county is opening up five more recycling drop-off locations in addition to its existing five drop-off sites:
- Fleming Island Library, 1895 Town Center Blvd., Fleming Island, open 24/7
- Oakleaf Community Park, 3979 Plantation Oaks Blvd, Orange Park, open 24/7
- Ronnie Van Zant Park, 2760 Sandridge Rd, Green Cove Springs, open 24/7
- Sunrise Park, 7933 Sunrise Blvd, Keystone Heights, open 24/7
- Walter Odum Park, 450 Parkwood Drive, Orange Park, open 24/7
- Clay Hill Environmental Convenience Center, 5869 CR 218, Middleburg, open Thurs. – Sat., 7:30 AM-5:30 PM
- Doctor's Inlet Environmental Convenience Center, 288 Sleepy Hollow Rd, Middleburg, open Thurs. – Sat., 7:30 AM-5:30 PM
- Keystone Heights Environmental Convenience Center, 5505 CR 214, Keystone Heights, open Thurs. – Sat., 7:30 AM-5:30 PM
- Long Bay Environmental Convenience Center, 1589 Long Bay Rd, Middleburg, open Thurs. – Sat., 7:30 AM-5:30 PM
- Rosemary Hill Solid Waste Management Facility, 3545 Rosemary Hill Rd, Green Cove Springs, open Mon. – Sat., 7:30 AM-5:30 PM.
The County Commission will reevaluate the temporary recycling collection halt each month.
Tristan Wood can be reached at newsteam@wjct.org or on Twitter at @TristanDWood.
