POLK COUNTY, Fla. — The stinky situation in Polk County continues, as some residents say it’s been weeks since their garbage was last collected.

County commissioners are now calling the lack of garbage pickup a threat to public health and safety, and voted unanimously for a local state of emergency. 

What You Need To Know

  • Parts of Polk County have gone weeks without trash collection                               

  • County commissioners voted for a local state of emergency

  • The county will be able set up emergency housing and trash storage, as well as use county funds for equipment and staffing to fix the issue

With the emergency order, the county will be able set up emergency housing and trash storage, and can use county funds for equipment and staffing to fix the issue.

Residents like Bryan Cousins say that needs to happen fast because his trash hasn't been picked up "since two Fridays ago, almost a week and a half of trash."

Because he takes his trash out just about every other day, that’s more than six bags worth just sitting at the end of his driveway.

“It’s starting to become an inconvenience because we don’t have anywhere to keep it," Cousins said. "We don’t have second cans. It’s just becoming a mess."

His situation is the same one residents throughout his neighborhood, and others in Polk County, are dealing with.

County officials said they started receiving complaints of infrequent trash collection from thousands of households about three months ago.

In response, the county gave FCC Environmental Services, the company contracted to pick up the garbage, 30 days to make it right.

Cousins said that still hasn’t happened.

“The county came out and said they had fixed the issues and service was getting back to normal," he said. "And I don’t think they talked to anybody within the county to find out if that was actually true."

Cousins said he’s reached out to county commissioners and to FCC directly with no luck, and says that at this point, enough is enough.

“I think what needs to happen is either the county needs to bring another company in to relieve some of the staffing issues with FCC and up to ultimately bringing another company in to bring on the load of the county with all of the new development going on,” he said.

County leaders and FCC officials are scheduled to meet Thursday in a closed-door meeting.

At this point, county officials have not said what they plan to do moving forward.

FCC could also not be reached for comment.