County seeks input through forums, surveys on solid waste collection services

By LOIS KINDLE

Hillsborough County Solid Waste Management is currently seeking input from county residents, via an online survey and through informal public forums, on how they feel about their current collection services and potential new services or changes being evaluated.

Hillsborough County Solid Waste Management is currently seeking input from residents, via an online survey, on how they feel about their current collection services and potential new services or changes being evaluated. COURTESY PHOTO

The county began contracting with waste haulers in the mid 90s and presently contracts with three private companies — Republic Services, Waste Connections and Waste Management — to collect garbage from 290,000 households in unincorporated Hillsborough and New Tampa, and that number is growing. Those contracts will expire next year, and new ones will soon be negotiated.

“The survey was prompted by the fact that these collection contracts are coming up for re-bid, and we will be bringing a draft bid document to the Hillsborough County Commission on Aug. 7,” said Kim Byer, Hillsborough County Solid Waste Management director.

As part of that, the county wanted to look at once a week collection, so it could see what it would cost and whether or not it would of value to residents.

The commissioners will meet to set terms for RFPs, request for proposals, and then the haulers will give prices for those services residents say they want and will use.

Any new services or changes in them would start in October 2020, but that doesn’t necessarily mean any services will change.

Damien Tramel, Solid Waste Management manager, thanks Renaissance resident Constance West for providing her feedback at a recent public forum held at Community Hall in Sun City Center. LOIS KINDLE PHOTOS

“No decisions have been made thus far,” said Damien Tramel, Solid Waste Management manager. “Our staff will provide all of the customer feedback we collect to the County Commission, so its members can understand the type of services residents want. We’re not advocating (any service) one way or the other,” he said.

The online survey includes questions on service frequency, recycling options and a proposed service for curbside pickup of large items, like mattresses, appliances and furniture. There’s also a question about paying a bit extra for diverting garbage to the county waste energy plant instead of the landfill.

“Most every county in the state has some kind of bulk collection as part of its (solid waste) collection cost,” Byer said, adding that options could include weekly or quarterly bulk pickup. “If enough people want it, it would become part the contracts negotiated with haulers.”

Between 150 and 200 Sun City Center residents turned out to Community Hall July 24 to take part in one of the informal forums that have taken place around the county.

Between 150 and 200 Sun City Center residents turned out to Community Hall July 24 to take part in one of the informal forums that have taken place around the county. Opinions were mixed.

“I was very happy to hear that rumors of the county’s discontinuing recycling weren’t true,” said Nancy Juhasz, of Sun City Center. “And I was glad the county was seeking our input on garbage pickup.” Juhasz said she’s not in favor of reducing garbage pickup to once weekly for a number of reasons. “But I’m very much in favor of bulk pickup,” she continued. “I have a couch right now that I’m waiting for a nonprofit group to pick up.”

Pat Jaccoi, of Kings Point, left the meeting unimpressed. “They told me what I wanted to hear, and I didn’t believe a word of it,” he said, adding he voiced his concerns and felt unheard. “I don’t think they were really interested.” Like Juhasz, Jaccoi said he was not in favor of once weekly garbage pickup.

Vern Hendricks, on the other hand, felt differently. “In the 47 years that we’ve been married, this is the first place we’ve lived where garbage is picked up two times a week,” he said. “We have no issue with going to once a week. As a matter of fact, we only put out our garbage once a week.”

Special Projects Coordinator James Ransom, top right, chats with several members of the Sun City Center community at a special public forum July 24.

Sun City Center resident Dee Williams had still another viewpoint. “I’m for going back to privatizing garbage collection, like it was when I came here,” she said. “Each homeowner dealt with the waste management hauler individually, and that’s what I prefer. “It costs more now, and service was better.” Williams added that she’s not in favor of bulk pickup unless the county charges residents for it individually, upon request, rather than assessing one fee for everyone, whether they use it or not.”

County commissioners are listening. “In light of the citizen response I’ve received so far, there’s no way I would vote for a reduction in service,” said countywide Commissioner Mariella Smith, District 5. “And I can all but guarantee my fellow commissioners are hearing the same message loud and clear.”

If you haven’t had your say, go to: https://bit.ly/2JYtlt2 and fill out the survey by Aug. 5. It includes 11 questions and takes about three minutes to complete.