Fighting Blight in the Community
26
Jul
One city's campaign to keep its neighborhoods clean.
What is Blight?
Blight – (noun) an ugly, neglected, or rundown condition of an urban area.
It’s hard not to notice when trash or old tires are piled up on the side of the road. What about old furniture and mattresses thrown on the curb? Public safety, neighborhood degradation or lower property taxes are just a few of the side effects of how blight can have a negative impact on the community.
Blight – (noun) an ugly, neglected, or rundown condition of an urban area.
It’s hard not to notice when trash or old tires are piled up on the side of the road. What about old furniture and mattresses thrown on the curb? Public safety, neighborhood degradation or lower property taxes are just a few of the side effects of how blight can have a negative impact on the community.
Some volunteers spend many hours picking up trash. They do their part to reduce waste and recycle. One city has taken a stand against the litter and old junk left behind. The City of Jacksonville is asking residents to help Fight Blight. This is a unique campaign to keep neighborhoods and businesses clean.
Some tips from Jacksonville leaders on how you can get involved:
- Know your disposal days.
- Keep your yard maintained with grass no higher than 15 inches. Knee high is too high!
- Recycle!
- Report illegal dumping on private or public property.
- Schedule collections for tires, appliances and bulk items with your local waste collectors.
Citizens on the First Coast can join the Blight Squad. They can take the oath to keep Jacksonville neighborhoods clean and report any issues of blight by phone or online. There is even an app to learn more about the Fight Blight initiative. Just go to the app store on your mobile device and download MyJax App. It is an interactive site where you can take a picture and report blight, find waste collection schedules and much more. Education is key when it comes to keeping our paradise litter-free. Let’s continue to find unique ways to reduce, reuse, recycle and Keep Florida Beautiful!