Large trash containers raise concerns among Manatee County residents.

Key Information

• Effective Date: Changes commence on Oct. 6, 2024.
• Bin Size: Residents will receive 96-gallon garbage bins (64-gallon bins available upon request after Jan. 1, 2025).
• Collection Frequency: Garbage will be collected once a week.
• Community Meetings: Concerns discussed at a meeting with over 70 residents and county officials on Aug. 7, 2024.
• Price Increase: The cost for item pickup over standard size now set at $59.
• Community Cleanup Days: Planned to be held throughout the year, with the first in January 2025.

As Manatee County residents voice concerns about the upcoming changes to the county’s garbage collection, Commissioner Carol Felts stated that options are being explored to facilitate the transition.

Starting Oct. 6, residents in unincorporated Manatee County are required to use designated 96-gallon garbage bins for trash disposal. Alternatively, 64-gallon bins will be available upon request after Jan. 1, 2025, and collection will occur once a week.

Residents in East County, from Lakewood Ranch to Myakka City, have varied concerns. Rural homeowners worry that the 96-gallon bins may be too heavy for long driveways, while condo owners fear the bins may be too large to store in a one-car garage.

Many homeowners’ associations (HOAs) prohibit leaving garbage cans outside, complicating compliance with the new system.

In response to resident inquiries, Joe Di Bartolomeo, chairman of the Tara Community Development District, held a Zoom meeting with county officials on Aug. 7, attended by over 70 residents.

Chris Collins, Interim Deputy Director of Solid Waste, remarked on the inevitability of these changes, reiterating that they were approved by the Board of County Commissioners in May 2024.

“We are here to implement the changes and work with residents,” he stated. “Like it or not, we can’t change a lot of this.”

More than 3,000 residents have signed a petition on Change.org urging the county to reconsider the decision. Felts highlighted that prior commitments to maintain a low rate of $23.65 per month necessitated a switch to weekly pickup.

The new system will rely on automated trucks operated by Waste Pro and Waste Management, limiting flexibility in the disposal process.

One primary concern from Tara residents was how to comply with HOA regulations regarding garbage bin storage, particularly when sized bins may not fit in smaller garages.

Collins was only able to provide a delivery window for the new bins from Aug. 18 through the end of September.

Di Bartolomeo proposed contacting the vendor for more specific delivery notifications and encouraged proactive planning for the upcoming changes within other HOAs.

The Tara Master Association will modify its policy to grant an extra week or two for residents to manage the storage of new bins.

Although the 96-gallon bins are only an inch wider than the county’s recycling bins, residents can request a smaller size if storage space is an issue.

Rural Concerns

Felts, representing rural areas of Manatee County, pointed out the significant differences in garbage pickup in rural versus suburban settings. For instance, long driveways necessitate transporting bins, which could prove difficult with the larger size.

Moreover, communal pickup areas may struggle to accommodate the new automated system, which requires bins to be lined up appropriately for collection.

While rural residents may resort to burn bins, the county is exploring the use of dumpsters and organizing “Community Cleanup Days” for residents.

Residents are also concerned about the new fee structure; items too large for the bins will cost $59 for pickup. Alternative disposal at the Lena Road landfill incurs a fee as well, posing challenges for some residents.

The first cleanup day is anticipated for January 2025 in Myakka City, with plans for eight events per year across the county still in development.

“You still have to get your stuff to the dumpster,” Felts noted, emphasizing that this option is significantly more economical than the $59 fee for pickups.