'A cleaner community': Panama City Beach launches bulk garbage pilot program for residents

PANAMA CITY BEACH — There now is an easier way for Beach residents to throw away larger, unwanted items.

Panama City Beach this week launched its bulk garbage pilot program, which allows residents to schedule a time to have bulk trash items picked up from their homes. The free program is available for anyone who lives within the city limits, apart from businesses, commercial contractors and those who live in an apartment or condo.

"Mayor Mark Sheldon brought up the idea of having dumpsters rotating around to various neighborhoods to allow for residents to dispose of items that are difficult to dispose of," Debbie Ingram, spokesperson for PCB, wrote in an email. "After the public works staff looked at it, they thought it would be better to go this route with scheduled pickups.

Ingram noted residents can schedule a pickup by visiting pcbfl.gov/seeclickfix. They then can click on the "SeeClickFix" link and fill out a form to narrow down a time. They can also do this by phone through the "SeeClickFix" app.

From there, there will be a map that residents can use to pinpoint their location. They also can include photographs of the item they want picked up.

"Within two days, someone from the Public Works Department will call them back and schedule the pickup," Ingram wrote. "It could take up to two weeks for the scheduling, depending on where the city is in the debris pickup schedule."

Residents are asked to position bulk trash items for pickup on the curb away from power lines, trees, utility boxes and fire hydrants − not in the street or on sidewalks.

Items eligible for pickup up through the bulk garbage pilot program include furniture, mattresses, appliances, fencing, carpet, lumber and tile.

"We will not pick up hazardous materials such as paint cans, and we do not pick up tires," Ingram wrote. "If putting an appliance out, we would ask residents to please be sure the doors are taped or tied shut, and any Freon in refrigerators or air conditioners should be removed by a certified professional."

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Once picked up, the bulk trash items will be taken to Steelfield Landfill, 11411 Landfill Road in Panama City Beach.

"This is a service we are providing residents in an effort to have a cleaner community and reduce the number of code enforcement complaints," Ingram wrote.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City Beach launches pilot program to pick up bulk garbage items