- April 17, 2024
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Instead of increasing fees for garbage collection, Ocoee city leaders are considering changing the service from two days to once per week.
The consideration is similar to what other municipalities have done. Most recently, Orange County adopted a once-per-week collection when it implemented its new trash cans.
“We actually have a lot of residents call us and ask, ‘Why are you picking up two times a week still? We don’t need that,’” Ocoee Public Works Director Steve said. “That’s what started the whole process of looking into it.”
Because many citizens recommended this, Krug hopes they will be receptive to the switch. The switch to one pick-up day per week would save on fuel and allow one less day of trucks on the road.
“The city currently provides two pick-up days per week for every resident and, generally, most people don’t put out garbage on both days,” he said. “If we want to go to one service day per week, that would save us a day of operating the trucks and keep us within budget.”
Krug said the fee rates for the valet trash service in Ocoee haven’t changed since 2008, so the intention is keep the same fees by limiting garbage pick-up services to once a week. The fees collected to used to pay Sold Waste Sanitation for their service.
“The solid waste sanitation has to pay for itself with what we collect, and each resident is charged $252 per year on the non-ad valorem tax roll, and that’s how we fund our solid waste,” Krug said. “It’s a little over $3 million, and that pays for everything: picking up yard waste, recycling, garbage and it also allows us to participate in Orange County’s (household hazardous waste).”
Non-ad valorem tax is assessed by the Community Development District, which is included in the real-estate tax bill. The tax helps pay for infrastructure improvements and county services including water, fire rescue, lighting, solid waste, etc.
The commission hasn’t voted to approve the new program or set a date for approval just yet. However, Krug will be meeting with the commissioners individually to talk about the specifics and brainstorm which neighborhoods to use as pilot communities to gauge residents’ reaction and program feasibility. The change wouldn’t take place until January 2017 at the earliest, he said.
The result of the pilot program will influence the progress and potential start date of the city-wide program. If implemented, the most challenging part, Krug added, is educating residents on when the route changes will be and when residential neighborhoods’ assigned pick-up days will be.
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Contact Gabby Baquero at [email protected].