Pinellas County Resumes Some In-Person Services Suspended Due To COVID-19

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — Pinellas County is resuming some facility operations and services that were closed or suspended to slow the spread of COVID-19. The following departments are reopening facilities to the public and resuming selected services.

Solid Waste

Pinellas County Department of Solid Waste will reopen the Household Electronics and Chemical Collection Center (HEC3) and resume mulch delivery to three county parks on Monday, June 1.

The HEC3 will open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. for the collection of unwanted household electronics and chemicals at no charge to residents. For the safety of customers and staff, the handling of items has changed. Staff and customers will be practicing 6-foot social distancing. Customers will be required to unload their items from their vehicles.

Details regarding accepted items and quantity limits can be found by visiting www.pinellascounty.org/solidwaste/hec3, or by calling (727) 464-7500.

The Swap Shop will remain closed; a reopening date will be determined.

Mulch delivery will resume on Monday, June 1. Mulch will be available at John Chesnut, Sr. Park, Walsingham Park, and A.L. Anderson Park. The mulch is free to Pinellas County residents. Residents must bring their own shovel and may take as much as needed. Free mulch is also available next to the HEC3.

Animal Services

Also beginning Monday, June 1, Pinellas County Animal Services will reopen with updated business hours. The Animal Services lobby will be open to the public Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. until 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Only one person from any party will be allowed into the facility. Animal Services staff will encourage visitors to wear masks and social distancing precautions will remain in place. Also starting Monday, lobby intake for kittens and mother cats with kittens will resume. Lobby intake for all other cats will begin the week of June 8.

To improve the likelihood of pet-owner reunification, Pinellas County Animal Services has changed its policy concerning anonymous animal turn in. Starting June 1, citizens will no longer be allowed to turn in animals anonymously. All citizens bringing in cats or dogs must show proof of Pinellas County residency with a full physical address. The information will be entered into the animal’s record. The citizen must also be able to provide a physical address where the cat or dog was found or trapped, if it is different from their residence.

This press release was produced by the Pinellas County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.