Cart-to-Curb details released
The City of Plant City released new information about its upcoming Cart-to-Curb waste collection program last week.
Cart-to-Curb is an automated, twice-weekly collection system set to roll out in several phases, the first of which will go live late this summer.
“We’re excited to move forward with this project, for the sake of our community and our employees,” Jill Sessions, director of the City of Plant City’s Solid Waste Department, said in a press release. “It’s such a clean, sanitary and efficient system, and it greatly enhances the safety of our employees and the longevity of their careers, since it reduces the physical labor requirements of waste collection.”
Residents in the areas covered in the first phase of the rollout must choose a cart size by April 30 and can see the available sizes at City Hall (302 W. Reynolds St.), the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center (302 S. Maryland Ave.) or Bruton Memorial Library (302 McLendon St.). The carts will also be viewable at presentations to be hosted around the city.
“The automated waste collection system will start in half of the city, in only residential areas and primarily in planned neighborhoods, where streets are wide and easy to navigate,” the city said in a press release. “These routes were designed for safety, optimal driving efficiency and to balance the collection of tons of solid waste. High-speed roads with high volumes of vehicular traffic are included because these create major safety concerns for our manual-collection operators. Phase Two will begin about a year later, in late summer of 2022.”
A map provided by the city details exactly when residents in the Phase One area can expect pickups. Those who live in the blue areas will have Monday and Thursday pickups while those who live in the green areas will have Tuesday and Friday pickups.
“The current level of service will continue — twice weekly collection, once-a-week recycling and yard waste collection, bulk items collected as needed and one free grabber load per year — all for one monthly fee set by cart size,” the press release continued. “The rates will be $27.50 for a 95-gallon cart, $25.50 for a 65-gallon cart and $23.00 for a 35-gallon cart. Front door service will still be provided for qualified residents.”
For more information, visit plantcitygov.com and click on “Solid Waste” in the Departments & Services tab. The city also asks residents to participate in an online survey at plantcitygov.com/solid-waste/webform/cart-curb-survey.
“We want to make sure every voice is heard,” Sessions said. “Please fill out our survey and include your name and contact information if you want us to get back to you. Schedule and attend a presentation. Check out our ‘frequently asked questions’ online,” she said. “This rollout will be most successful and least complicated if we educate and get input from as many people as possible before it happens.”
Arts Council, Winthrop team up for art installation
The newest piece of artwork on display in Krazy Kup’s side alley was the result of a collaboration between the Arts Council of Plant City and Winthrop Arts, Inc.
The Arts Council and Peggy Hyde donated a total of $500 to the Winthrop Arts Mobile Art Factory to help Bryant Martinez, an art instructor who teaches Plant City-area students in the Mobile Art Factory, get the materials for the creation and installation of the piece, which was made by kids in the Hispanic Services Council’s network.
Martinez has been giving art lessons to the students once a week since the program started in 2020. The connection was made by Arts Council Secretary Melissa Hart, an art teacher and a friend of Martinez’s. After the council gathered the funds for its initial $250 donation, Hyde decided to match it with $250 of her own.
“I am so pleased that Melissa has brought the two organizations, Winthrop Arts and the Arts Council, together in a common bond to further the arts in Plant City,” Arts Council President Marsha Passmore said.