My Clearwater
Trash & Recycling Vaults Keep Beach Bright and Beautiful
If you’ve been to North Clearwater Beach, you’ve
probably seen Clearwater’s new underground trash and
recycling refuse systems near Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill
and the Palm Pavilion.
These systems are actually upside-down trash and recycling
containers that store refuse 12 feet underground. This
helps keeps the refuse away from beach visitors, the wind,
and rain, which – in above-ground containers – can cause
materials to spill over to the ground, blow around the
beach and become unsightly litter.
Clearwater is all about being bright and beautiful, and
these vaults reduce litter and help keep it out of sight and
out of mind.
“They’re great!” said Earl Gloster, director of Clearwater
Solid Waste & Recycling. “In addition to being better for
the environment and improved aesthetics on our beautiful
beach, the Underground Refuse System increases our
collection efficiency by increasing volume and decreasing
collection frequency.”
There are three dual units in the parking lot area near
Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill and the Palm Pavilion. The Solid
Waste Department is installing three additional systems
at BayCare Ballpark, and it plans to install systems in
the vicinity of Opal Sands, at a commercial
installation at Poinsettia Avenue, and at
the rebuild of Fire Station 46.
Underground Refuse Systems
are common in Europe, and
Clearwater is the second city in
the state to bring the systems
to Florida behind Kissimmee.
Several solid waste agencies
across the nation are bringing
the vaults to their cities, too.
“It’s an innovative way to handle
trash and recycling collection,”
said Gloster.
Winter l Spring 05