Last week we told you about how much trash we as a city dumped in one month. Now that we have “dropped the kids off at the pool,” here’s a new fact for you to flush down the toilet – in one day, 45 million gallons of wastewater is treated by all three city treatment plants. Need a visual? A typical bathtub can hold 40 gallons, so that means we treat about 1,125,000 bathtubs of water a day.

Poop may be a taboo topic for some, but for this city it’s a major part of the services we provide to you, our residents and businesses. It can affect our city in many ways if not treated properly or done right. 

During hurricane season, especially if we’re expecting a storm, make sure you follow these steps to avoid Lift Station outages and major plumbing backups in your home:

Only flush the 3 P’s down the toilet – pee, poop and paper  
Otherwise, you’re going to clog ALL the drains (picture the septic monster after a storm when all those not-really flushable wipes clump together and push out of the sewer through a manhole).

Get your septic tank inspected
No one wants brown water coming into your home during a swell and have no way to escape it.

Oh, and don’t forget the year-round threat from waste: 

Dog poo-llution
First, it’s gross, but it’s also bad for the environment. When doggie doo is not picked up, it goes down the storm drains and pollutes our lakes. 

Lawn over-fertilization
If you over fertilize your lawn, you’re actually causing more damage to our lakes. So much so, Orange County has a new fertilizer ordinance you should be aware of.

The more you know!

The Kids are Back

The kiddos are back in school - you may have noticed the uptick in morning traffic. In preparation, we hosted backpack stuffing and giveaways to make sure our young residents have the tools they need for a successful academic year. Thanks to our commissioners, community partners and staff for their hard work.

But don’t forget – keep your eyes open for walking children, crossing guards and those school zone flashing lights.

Get Rid of Those 90s TVs

This is not a drill – the Electronic Waste and Textile Recycling Event is finally here! Join us on Saturday, August 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Orlando Festival Park (2911 East Robinson Street) and drop off your stuff. Some things we will accept include:

Televisions

Shoes

Rechargeable batteries

Stuffed toys

Learn more about what will be accepted

Be Part of This Year’s Veterans Day Parade
Mayor Buddy Dyer and his Veterans Advisory Council will honor the courageous men and women of the armed forces at the 23rd annual City of Orlando Veterans Day Parade in downtown Orlando on Saturday, November 12. 

This annual family-friendly event is a huge hit with all our residents and we are looking for some awesome parade participants! Interested? Fill out an application for your organization today.

Learn more at orlando.gov/veteransparade

The Elections are Coming!

Early voting is now open for the local primaries in Orange County. Early voting ends August 21 and the Primary Election Day is August 23. 

With elections comes election signs. After the primaries, don't let your election signs go to waste. Bring them to a drop-off location to be recycled. Sign collection will be available from August 19 – September 6. And don’t worry, we’ll have another round of sign recycling after the November elections as well. 

Find the closest recycling location

45 Years and Still Running

Today we're highlighting a business that has done so much more than provide our city with reliable products and services.

Orlando staple, Track Shack is celebrating 45 years of business in our city, and in those years they have grown into one of the best-known running-based businesses among runners across the country. Jon and Betsy Hughes, although not the original owners of Track Shack, have been with the business since its opening in 1977. 

Forty-five years later, Jon and Betsy now own the business that is probably known more for their unmatched dedication to their customers and the inclusive, always welcoming community they’ve created than the shoes and accessories they sell on their shelves. The couple strives to ensure Track Shack is a place where Tri-athletes and Couch to 5k-ers alike are treated as individuals with specific needs, goals and preferences. But the couple’s aspirations didn’t stop there. Today in 2022, Track Shack has its own foundation focused on youth programming, hosts a variety of weekly running groups and sponsors more than 50 races every year.

So, don’t be shy if you’ve never visited this iconic Orlando business. Jon, Betsy and their entire team will welcome you with open arms. Track Shack is located at 1104 North Mills Avenue or you can visit their website at trackshack.com.

Here’s to the next 45 years!

Other Things You Should Know

Join us for the next Community Connections Workshop 

National Night Out events are happening all over the city 

Display your art during our Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations 

Now Hiring

New Job Openings

Police Functional Analyst – Police Department 

Constitutional Policing and Policy Administrator – Police Department

Automotive Technician I/II - Fleet Services

Follow City of Orlando Careers on Facebook and LinkedIn.

View All Jobs

Events

Public Board Meetings

Visit orlando.gov/publicmeetings
for more meetings and location details

Municipal Planning Board
August 15, 8:30 a.m.

Families, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
August 16, 11 a.m.

DDB/CRA Advisory Board
August 17, 1 p.m.

Appearance Review Board
August 18, 2 p.m.

Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
August 18, 2 p.m.

Event

Community Connections - You Have No Idea! Resources for Support
August 13
9 - 11 a.m.
Internal Operations Center
450 East South Street

NNO Shred Event
August 13
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Sedano's Supermarket
5660 Curry Ford Road

ReThink Your Waste Webinar: Kitchen Edition
August 13
9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Virtual

Orlando Farmers Market
August 14
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Lake Eola Park
20 North Eola Drive

City Council Workshop and Meeting
August 15
10 a.m.; 2 p.m.
City Hall, Council Chambers
400 South Orange Avenue

COVID Information and Resources

Order free at-home COVID-19 tests through the federal government at covidtests.gov 

Vaccine information can be found at ocfl.net/vaccine  

Updates on city services can be found at orlando.gov/covid19  

Updates on Orange County services can be found at ocfl.net/covid19