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New virtual tour of the Solid Waste Disposal Complex

Photo Caption: Image of the Pinellas County Solid Waste Disposal Complex (SWDC) from the top of the Bridgeway Acres Landfill, as shown on the homepage of the virtual tour.

Ever wonder what happens to your garbage when you throw it away? You can find out by taking the new interactive virtual tour of the Pinellas County Solid Waste Disposal Complex!

Those of all ages can get up close and personal with the County’s garbage without leaving the comfort of their own home or school. Through the virtual tour, travel around the site to learn how we manage over one million tons of garbage as a resource each year and why it’s important we reduce our waste.

Once you open the virtual tour, click on one of the blue and white “location” icons, which will automatically zoom to a featured area, like the Scalehouse or Education Campus. Then, click the “i” icon in the blue circle to see images and videos and read interesting facts about that area. For example, visit the Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Facility to watch a video of a “claw” picking up six to 10 tons of garbage. As you visit each site, you can click the image and drag to see a 360-degree view of the area.

Screenshot of the Waste-to-Energy Facility tipping floor, showing piled garbage inside a building with a large metal claw picking up garbage. Four icons with an "i" inside a circle indicate areas to click for more information, images and videos about the facility.
Screenshot of Waste-to-Energy Facility tipping floor with icons that contain images, videos and information about the facility.

You can also move about by clicking the map or selecting a location from the legend.

Screenshot showing a map of the Solid Waste Disposal Complex with key sites marked with blue icons.
Aerial map of the SWDC and the legend used in the Virtual Tour.

Get a sneak peak into the…

Industrial Water Treatment Facility

Aerial view of water treatment tanks full of green water.
Aerial image of the clarifiers used in the treatment process at the Industrial Water Treatment Facility.

Bridgeway Acres Landfill and more!

Aerial image of Bridgeway Acres Landfill, showing piled garbage and trucks with trailers dropping off trash.
Aerial image of Bridgeway Acres Landfill.

Learn about how you can help Pinellas County Solid Waste reach its vision of zero waste to landfill by 2050 by checking out the virtual tour and more on our Educational Resources: Garbage and Recycling webpage.

The virtual tour was created by VRtical Media and Solid Waste staff. If you have any questions or feedback, please email recycle@pinellas.gov.

The Solid Waste Association of North America’s Communication, Education, and Marketing (CEM) Technical Division Game Changing Tools Award recognizes an organization that equips communities with funding, technology, data, media, legislative, or community outreach materials, or other support needed to advance solid waste management to resource management, support public health and safety of those working in the industry, or ensure a just transition to the circular economy. Pinellas County Solid Waste was the recipient of this award in 2024 for the virtual tour of the Solid Waste Disposal Complex.

This story was updated on April 30, 2024 to include information about the CEM Game Changing Tools Award.