Long Car Line on Powell Rd
 

Does anyone know why there was a car line almost a mile long heading north on Powell and going into the parking lot near the library at Pinellas Plaza. We were heading south on Powell around 2:00 yesterday (Saturday) and couldn't imagine what the attraction was to have people wait in such a line.

Just curious.

It was due to Sumter e- & REcycling event.

Thanks TV Man. I never saw a car line so long in my whole life. It speaks well of so many people who care about the environment.

It took me 1 1/2 hours to get rid of my old stains, paints etc but it was worth it. They could have used more signage though - I was just hoping the line was for the recycling as I had not done this before and it wouldn't have been safe to get out of the car to ask. The first sign I saw was right at the building after being in the line for an hour. I just relaxed and listened to Radio Classics on Sirius radio and enjoyed it.

I saw the line of cars. I wonder how many people decided to just go home and throw out in the garbage the items that were/are hazardous. If the demand is so high maybe they should offer the service monthly instead of semi-annually.

There were many people who turned around when they had a chance. It would help to offer the service more often.

Is the Library a polling place?

it is!

Nothing like a mile long line of cars with their engines running to help the environment. The state where I came from offered the service once every week. If the powers that be want people to recycle or dispose of these items properly then they need to do a better job at collecting them.

:BigApplause:

We Villagers have the time to sit for an hour and a half. Most people don't, and that's why landfills have toxic waste.

In the eyes of posters on TOTV..............is anything ever done right?

Cm'on, if you have lived in Philadelphia and New Jersey you surely have seen longer lines.

Or southern CA or Dallas, Tx, or ...

I saw longer lines in the Bay Area of CA daily in 1979 during the "gas crisis" when odd and even license plate #s could line up for gas on odd or even calendar days.

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Recycling is a wonderful thing. We have recycled our stuff since the 1980's because the communities in which we lived had robust recycling programs. I would guess that about 80% of our weekly trash goes into recycle now. Yesterday's debacle (yes, that's right) probably resulted in more people turning away and not recycling than braved it out in line. Lake County has a recycling station but Sumter doesn't have one comparable. I would think that Sumter and Lake would consolidate at the Rolling Acres location because of the pent up demand. I don't know if Lake allows Sumter residents to utilize the recycling center; I have heard conflicting stories. But, when I drove down yesterday, I still have a large box of paint and other "stuff" that I am unwilling to put into household trash. I am not willing to wait for more than two hours in a line to get rid of it.

I sat (creeped) in the line for 2 1/4 hours! Something surely needs to be done to make it easier. Hope someone in Sumter county realizes how bad it was yesterday!!

???

Remember the George Washington Bridge. The line went on for days. I doubt if recycling was on anybody's mind.

We went to the recycling event last year and it was very organized and were in and out in 10 minutes. Wonder what changed?

Is there more than one site, Nan? Or one day?

Powell Traffic
 

I came in via Pinellas and inched along for nearly an hour. I kept wondering if I could simply pull into to the Winn-Dixie parking lot and walk over to hand in my old electronics junk. I didn't because nobody appeared to be doing that.

Recycle (Amnesty) Day is a good idea. But I hope Sumter Co. now knows better about holding it at the library, which was open, while early voting was also taking place, with multiple entrances to the lot, with cars cutting each other off and nobody directing traffic.

AH HAH....Voting TOO! That 'splains it.

:BigApplause::BigApplause::BigApplause::BigApplaus e:

We arrived early and all went smoothly and quickly. People must stay in their cars while those working remove recyclables from trunks of cars. Too much opportunity for spills or injury if people try to walk in with their disposables.

In the past few years, recycling day was held in Bushnell once a year. The following year at The Villages. Years ago it was also held in Wildwood. Lines are always long when these materials are being collected.

We had such days in the city I lived in, in CA...lines were long. Eventually, after many years, a site was opened on weekends for anyone from the county to bring their toxic materials to. As the population around our county increases, such a center may open here, somewhere in the county, also.

Patience.

You are always welcome to take the initiative to go directly to the landfill at any time.

Does it require buying an annual pass?

Just an FYI, We just cleaned out our garage and took 3 car loads including toxic waste to the recycling place right off of Rte 42 in Weirsdale. I know for sure they're closed on Thurs. We also took all our electronics there that we lost in the lightning strike. And no they do not check or ask if you live in Marion County. So if you really want to recycle there are a number of places, I bet even in Lake and Sumter County. And no it cost us nothing.

Duval Co. has a station that's open 5 days a week.....yeah I know no one cares how we did it up north (fl). ;)

Yes, I agree it was a debacle. When we went down at 11:30, the line of cars was backed onto 466A trying to get onto Burnsed. We decided to go do our other errands and come back. Still no better. We took our printer back home. I do not agree that sitting in a line for 1.5-2.5 hours with your engine running is a wise thing to do. Were they checking ID's or something?

Hopefully the people who ran this will put their heads together and figure out something better. How much pollution was spewed into the environment yesterday by all those cars waiting so long? Ridiculous.

I'll be searching online for a different place to recycle the printer.

I do believe you can take your printer to Best Buy for disposal. We take all electronics to be disposed, to them.

Staples will recycle electronics free of charge.

Yes it is and there was early Voting.

Agree! The area I came from, offered this once a month. What's up with calling it "amnesty day?" Am I being forgiven for having left over paint? Please..how dumb! Call it what it is Sumter County.

Thanks, Pooh. I wonder what's to be done with a vacuum sweeper.

It never ceases to amaze me when folks on the street still believe any government administration is capable of using common sense.:D

Lake county does have a facility on Rolling Acres; however, they require you to be a resident of Lake county. They may ask for ID or they may not. Luck of the draw.

Agreed, I sat in line over an hour and was disappointed when finally getting to the collection tent, had to alternate in line with those who decided to come in from the north side of the parking lot instead of getting in line on Powell. The powers to be best re-evaluate sticking to consistent rules or set up two or three off loading points instead of one.

No. You pay by the volume and type of waste. Insignificant cost.

I took advantage of this service last year and it was not even remotely close to being as crowded. I do not believe that anyone could have anticipated the crowd. I am sure they will react accordingly next year.

Up here in the land of the yankee my fishing spots seem to be collection spots.
The last time I went I could finish a kitchen.