Waste Pro provides recommendations to Oakland residents

Waste Pro Manager Regina Caronia and Government Affairs Director Platt Loftis spoke to residents and commissioners during the Oakland Town Commission meeting Tuesday, Aug. 26. 

Their appearance came after Mayor Shane Taylor said he has been contacted by residents multiple times stating weekly trash pick-up is not enough. 

Some residents were concerned with the smell their trash cans produce during the summertime, as well as maggots and bugs. 

Caronia and Loftis provided recommendations to help residents with their trash issues. 

Caronia said to avoid maggots, ensure the trash is bagged and tightly tied. 

She also said to use bleach to wipe the carts; bugs die instantly when they come in contact with the chemical. 

As an alternative to bleach, Caronia recommended wasp spray, ammonia and vinegar-water spray. 

She also said Waste Pro can replace any carts with faulty lids that don’t close completely to ensure bugs are unable to enter. 

“We can come up with a solution for you,” she said. “But before the commission goes and says ‘Let’s just go back to twice a week,’ let’s try a few things (first) and see if it works.” 

Caronia and Loftis also mentioned that switching from one-day pick-ups to two days per week would be costly, and the town already has a set contract in place. 

Caronia said once the heat is gone, residents won’t see the bugs anymore. 

In terms of smell, she said to grab a garden hose and spray the cart down. 

“It’s a pain, I know, but it can be worked through,” Caronia said. 

Taylor said trash pick-up times will be reevaluated once the new contract rolls around in February.

Some residents shared concerns about recycling being done. Some don’t recycle because they don’t believe items actually are recyclable. Loftis said the company itself does not recycle materials. Rather, it brings them to a recycling company that does the sorting themselves. 

Loftis also wanted everyone to know not to recycle glass at the moment. 

Waste Pro officials also said its newest purchased-company has a sorting line, where the company soon will be able to sort recycled materials themselves. 

IN OTHER NEWS: 

• The commission unanimously approved a resolution that established the beginning and ending dates and times to qualify as a candidate for the 2026 town general election. Reach out to town clerk Kathy Heard with questions at [email protected].
• The commission unanimously approved a resolution amending Oakland Hall’s rental rates. Only-full day rentals are available. Residents will pay $800 per day on Saturdays and Sundays while non-residents will pay $1,000. Weekdays will remain the same rate. 
• Mayor Shane Taylor recognized the month of September as National Preparedness Month. He also proclaimed Monday, Sept. 1, as Labor Day. 
• The town’s budget workshop for the 2026 fiscal year will take place at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8.