New Lakeland automated trash pick-up ironing out the kinks

LAKELAND, Fla. - South Lakeland may have looked something like a wasteland after the city began its robotic trash collection service, which had problems keeping up with trash Tuesday, The Ledger reports.

City residents north of I-4 and south of Polk Parkway switched to once-per-week garbage pickup, which went well in North Lakeland, but areas south of the Parkway had to deal with extra garbage placed beside trash cans.

Jeff Wood, manager of solid waste for Lakeland said that more family homes in South Lakeland combined with excess trash from the holidays contributed to the excess south side trash pile up.

"We're getting challenges out there and having to deal with people not putting their carts out the right way and overages (of garbage)," Woods told The Ledger.

The service doesn’t run on Wednesdays, so officials were able to review their performance from Monday and Tuesday.

Though residents are suppose to place all trash into cans, Woods says workers will pick up their excess trash for the first few weeks.

The service received more than 300 calls, mostly requesting to change to a smaller can size.

In July, residents were asked if they wanted a 95, 65 or 35 gallon can for the service, and those who didn’t respond were automatically given the 95 gallon cans at $15.50 a month. 65 and 35-gallon cans cost $14.50 and $13.50 per month.

"We've had 410 orders to change sizes," Wood said.

"It could take a week or two to change."

Lakeland plans to faze the service in over the next 4 ½ years.

The garbage trucks, valued at $235,000, require drivers but not a crew.  Garbage cans are lifted by a mechanical arm and are dumped into the truck.

The proper way for garbage cans to be placed is:

• 1. Point Can in proper direction on the curb - There is a arrow on the can that shows proper position.
• 2. Place Can in an area where there is three feet of space on every side by the curb, this is necessary for the automated arm to be able to grab the can.
• 3. Make sure all trash is in the can. This allows the driver to not have to get out and spend time throwing the trash in the truck.

For more information about the new service, visit www.lakelandgov.net and click on Lakeland EZ Can.