Florida City Suspends Recycling Program Over Coronavirus

BRADENTON, FL — With multiple sanitation workers under quarantine for possible exposure to the coronavirus, one Florida city said it had no choice but to suspend its recycling program.

"Prioritizing household garbage and yard waste collections, the city of Bradenton will continue a temporary suspension of picking up recyclables for another week," city officials announced Friday.

Officials said several employees were awaiting the results of their coronavirus tests and could not immediately return to work.

“Hopefully, this will be short term, so we are asking our residents to continue to collect their recyclables without a pickup for another week,” Public Works and Utilities Director Jim McLellan said. “We will reassess next week.”

The suspension went into effect on July 10 and will continue at least through July 24.

"The City will continue to monitor staffing levels and a determination will be made regarding any additional suspension of recycling services," officials said.

Residents have been generating more than twice the typical amount of yard waste since the pandemic began.

Officials blame the increase on more residents staying home during the pandemic.