Fort Walton Beach keeps garbage pickup steady while recycling shifts for holiday schedule
Fort Walton Beach, Florida – During the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays, Fort Walton Beach’s solid waste and recycling services will run on a different schedule. This is because city officials want to give sanitation workers time off to be with their family. Most home services will go on as usual, although some recycling collections will move to different days, and there will be no service at all on the two biggest holidays.
City officials emphasized that garbage pickup for homes will go on as usual during the holidays. People may expect their usual garbage pickup, even on days around Christmas and New Year’s Day. The city said that keeping garbage service running smoothly is a top concern to keep the trash from piling up during a time when families tend to make more waste.
People should know that yard waste and bulk waste pickup will continue, but it will happen when it fits into the timetable. City workers will pick up these things as soon as they can. Residents are encouraged to put them neatly along the curb, away from mailboxes and utility boxes, to make sure they are picked up safely and quickly. There may be some delays because of changes in staffing during the holidays, but any materials left at the curb will be taken care of.
The biggest changes will be in recycling services. On Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25, there will be no recycling pickup. People who normally recycle on that Thursday will have their items picked up on the next Wednesday, December 31. On Friday, December 26, recycling will be picked up as usual.
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A similar change happens on New Year’s Day. There will be no recycling on Thursday, January 1. If you are affected by the holiday, you should plan for a pickup on Wednesday, December 31, instead of your usual Thursday service. City officials encouraged residents to hold recyclables securely until their rescheduled pickup to avoid litter or contamination.
There may also be modifications for business customers. There will be no pickups on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. The city’s Sanitation Department will work directly with businesses to make sure that dumpsters and containers are emptied either before or after the holidays. If you are a business customer and have questions or unique problems, please contact the department directly for help.
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Officials thanked residents and businesses for their cooperation and understanding. They said that the temporary changes to the timetable help keep public services running smoothly while also keeping city workers safe throughout the holidays.
