City to Start Garbage Pickup Pilot Program for Downtown Businesses

The 95-gallon carts used to collect garbage from businesses in downtown Tampa will soon disappear. In their place, 30-gallon blue bags will appear starting July 1.

The City of Tampa Solid Waste and Environmental Program Management Department and the Tampa Downtown Partnership are piloting the collection program in an effort to decrease clutter in downtown Tampa.

“Part of being pedestrian friendly is keeping the streetscape and sidewalks visually appealing.  Frankly, the blue bins are big and clunky, and on trash days, they are everywhere,” said Mayor Bob Buckhorn in a news release. “This program allows us to provide better collection services to the merchants in our urban core and keep our sidewalks unobstructed.”

Merchants downtown will purchase the blue bags from the city, and the solid waste department will collect them up to three times per day Monday through Saturday. Currently, the city collects garbage from downtown businesses up to twice a day, Monday through Saturday.

The pilot program will include 53 businesses within the boundaries of Royal Street on the north end, Whiting Street on the south end, Tampa Street on the west end and Franklin Street on the east end. Residential buildings in the downtown area won't be affected.

What do you think of the pilot program? Tell us in the comments.