On October 6th, garbage collection will change for all residents of Manatee County, moving from twice a week to once per week. What seems like a simple shift within the community is actually a much bigger issue that is causing distress in the lives of citizens in Manatee.
As waste companies are changing methods and raising costs, county officials are being put in a position to make necessary changes. The cost for the current trash service was increasing rapidly causing the Manatee County Government to have to figure out a new plan for their citizen’s trash.
“It was going to raise up to something like $50-60 a month. It was going to be a really significant charge to continue the current service,” Government Relation Director, Stephanie Garrison stated. People of Manatee still had their doubts about the situation, but Garrison responded explaining it as, “one simple day for everything.” The days of trash collection that used to be separated for garbage and recycling are now together forming one day.
Not only will pickup times change, but Manatee residents will now be having to get used to the idea of how their trash will be received. Sanitation workers are no longer taking trash in plastic bags, now they will only be taking what is in paper bags. Residents have been receiving 96-gallon trash bins that are said to be more durable than the bins previously used by residents. Although the trash receptacles are bigger, holding more debris, that does not mean they are necessarily more convenient. Most people of Manatee do not want to drag such a large can up and down their long driveways, especially when filled.
In addition larger items – for example mattresses, chairs, couches, and other furniture will not be taken. Residents will now need to order pickup for such oversized garbage, but for a cost of $59. If people refuse to pay for pickup they can drop their trash off at a landfill, but that could be an inconvenience depending where you are located, not to mention costs at the landfill.
Another new change that is coming to trash pickup is that they are downsizing workers from two people per truck to just one. The truck now has a new operation including an arm to take the trash. Some argue that people could be losing their jobs over the new rules, while others think that they possibly did not have enough workers in the first place. Garrison stated that this new operation is safer, and ensures less trucks being on the road.
Although some residents did have concerns on the new technology for the trucks, thinking that what if the arm broke down one day and there was only one person to do all the heavy lifting. What would they do then? Here are some different view points from students and residents in Manatee County.
Tory Cheek, a student from Manatee High school stated “I think it’s dumb because people obviously need jobs and it’s not okay for someone to have to pay a $59 fine. I think it’s convenient to have to have the new technology but people probably do it faster, as technology could possibly mess up or pick something up that it shouldn’t.”
Next, a resident of Manatee, Anna Pohl added, “I am aware that my mom has trouble moving the large can up and down her driveway. Not only my mom, but it affects many people who might struggle moving the can. As it is very clear that Florida is home to a large majority of senior residents, I don’t see how that is fair to them. It would have been nice if they could have done a test run with just one neighborhood before applying it to all of Manatee. I am sure that the county means well by what they are doing. It’s a half and half situation between not having enough money and maybe not having as many employees as they would like. Personally I dislike seeing all of the larger items like couches piled up on the roads so in some ways it’s nice to see them trying to clean it up.”
Lastly, a quote from Aiyana Lopez Reeve, a Manatee High School student, had a clear statement on the matter, “I kind of think it’s stupid.”
In conclusion, Manatee County had a situation and they came up with a solution. Though it was an inconvenience to some residents we will see how the new trash schedule and rules plays out.