Commissioners Help Deliver New Roll Carts for Orange County’s New Automated Curbside Collection Program

On his way to the office on a recent morning, District 5 Orange County Commissioner Ted Edwards strapped on a safety vest and made an important stop at Teriwood Avenue in Orlando to help deliver new garbage and recycling roll carts to local residents.

Between now and mid-December, nearly 205,000 Orange County residents will receive two, 95-gallon garbage and recycling roll carts for the new Automated Curbside Collection Program that begins Jan. 1, 2016. The new garbage roll cart with green lids will hold three times more trash than a regular size can and will be collected once per week. The blue lid cart is for recycling. With the change, residents will receive a $35 per year savings on their collection services.

Single-family homes in unincorporated Orange County will transition to the new automated garbage and recycling collection system in January, a move endorsed and supported by Orange County’s Sustainability Advisory Board.

“Studies show that the automated collection programs increase recycling rates by up to 35 percent – so this is a game changer for Orange County,” Commissioner Edwards said. “This program is a welcome addition to our community and the conservation effects will be a benefit to generations to come.”

District 6 Commissioner Victoria Siplin and District 3 Commissioner Pete Clarke also pitched in with cart distributions in the Tangelo Park and Lake Conway areas, respectively.

“It was great to come out and assemble these carts and educate residents about the changes,” Commissioner Clarke said. “This is a positive change in Orange County and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

There are many benefits to the program, including increased convenience for residents due to fewer trips to the curb and cleaner communities because the roll carts create neater, litter-free neighborhoods.

The new Automated Curbside Collection Program is a result of Mayor Teresa Jacobs’ Sustainability Initiative, which began in 2013 as an effort to plan for future population growth in a way that enhances the quality of life for current and future generations. The plan, “Our Home for Life,” outlines specific incremental and transformative changes for the County through 2040, leading towards a more prosperous, healthy, livable, and connected community.

“I loved seeing the commissioners coming around with the carts in the neighborhood,” said Sharon Gordon, resident of the Lake Conway Woods subdivision. “I think it sends a positive message to get everyone on board with the change.”

To learn more about the County’s new Automated Curbside Collection Program visit www.ocfl.net/GreenClean2016. Residents may also call the Solid Waste Hotline at 407-836-6601 or email Solid.Waste@ocfl.net.