As the city studies whether to stick with Waste Pro, alter its contract–once-a-week pick-up? pay more for recycling?– or go with a new hauler , Palm Coast residents can tell city leaders what their preferences are for the next garbage and recycling service by taking a community-wide survey from march 1 through March 31.
The 10-question survey is available to take online here. It takes about two minutes to fill out. It is anonymous. It allows for additional, written comments.
Paper versions will also be delivered in utility bills and be available for in-person participation at Palm Coast City Hall at 160 Lake Avenue, and the Palm Coast Community Center, at 305 Palm Coast Pkwy NE. Residents with paperless billing will receive a link in email. Survey results will be tabulated and presented to the City Council in April.
The City’s current solid waste and recycling services contract with Waste Pro ends on May 31, 2022. Under that contract, residents’ garbage is picked up twice a week, yard waste is picked up once a week and recycling is picked up once week. The rate is currently $20.36 per month, not much different from what it was when the city first contracted with Waste Pro in 2007. Waste Pro is also the county’s contractor.
The survey asks a variety of questions relating to the frequency of pickup, recycling costs and rewards. overall impression of services and so on. It does not ask whether you want to stick with Waste Pro or not, but the very first question is a different way to ask that: “What is your overall impression of the current residential collection services provided in the City?” You can give a rating from 1 to 5.
“We encourage all residents in Palm Coast to fill out the survey so they can have a voice in helping their leaders decide on a contract in the coming months,” said Cynthia Schweers, Director of Citizen Engagement. “Our residents are paying for this important service and we want to make sure that we communicate their wants and needs as we move forward in the selection process.”
The city plans to host a virtual town hall meeting on March 19 with Schweers, Mayor Milissa Holland and a consultant from NewGen Strategies & Solutions to show what has changed in the industry and answer solid waste related questions. Residents can submit questions on palmcoastconnect.com now through March 16.
The city hired NewGen Strategies for $25,000 to help it navigate the shoals of the new contract, always an intricate and politically fraught business when it comes to trash. The city intends to put the contract out for bid in May.
For more information, contact customer service at [email protected] or 386-986-2360. A request can also be submitted through palmcoastconnect.com. For more background on the city’s next steps, see the background article here.
R.J. says
Leave em alone n pay them more that’s a smelly job especially in the summer yuck
Lynn Tobin says
I think Waste Management is doing a fine job and should not be replaced. They are efficient and you can rely on them!!
FlaglerLive says
Waste Management does not have the contract in Palm Coast.
Mary says
Please ask them to SLOW DOWN
THE TRUCK. So afraid they will
hit a child or an elderly person or a pet.
The C section has small short streets
where there are many of the above
out and about on the streets .
PLEASE
PLEASE
PLEASE
Zachary says
I agree with this, way too fast in our section!
Dennis says
Six years ago, we used to pay about $20 a month for water and trash in Springhill, Florida. Most had septic tanks. I feel,Palm Coast’s costs are way out of line.
metoo says
It’s not broke . Don’t try to fix it. I live on Webster and the guys do a GREAT job.
Mark101 says
People need to be careful what they ask form its could be higher rates, reduction in service instead of better service.
Chad says
I would like a company that doesn’t ran over our mailbox over and puts our cans back upright this one now blows
Monte Cristo says
How does anyone get a no-bid contract in Palm Coast?
Well you give a no-bid contract to a consultant that is a Waste Pro concubine. For $25,000.00 first.
Then you send out this shame of a survey, and get paid $25,0000.00.
Then you expect residents to offer their opinions to which they likely know nothing about. Hoping they buy into the once a week service and hopefully get rid of recycling because the Chinese stopped buying. Huh? And get paid $25,000.00
Then the Consultants will recommend Waste Pro as the ultimate contractor without any bidding just because the Consultant says this is good for the City.
Again bad idea. It’s pretty simple PUT IT OUT TO BID!
This process makes my skin crawl with the notion of favor for a favor.
Someone got a gift of some type. No bid Consultant and no bid garbage contracts. It’s New Jersey all over again.
Tony Soprano would be proud, may he rest in peace!
JustBeNice says
We are happy with Waste Pro. If it’s not broken don’t fix it.
George says
Why do they zigzag down the street they block the road on wrong side if the street they drive with high beams on drive to fast an try to run you over, it’s against federal law to zigzag or go from one side if the street to the other. It needs to go out for bid, there are other company’s that are cheaper angit better service, check out FCC out if Daytona Beach, they pick up g
Voluisa county, all cameras all the way around on the trucks an do outstanding job,
Linda Flory says
Absolutely will not ever put out a trash can in Palm Coast, as long as Waste Pro has the contract. Two years ago, trash men took a 30 gal Stainless Steel trash can full of our recent moving debris.What Moran does that?ln my ssent70yrs.Have never had trash and trash can thrown out.From that pick up day till present,bags & boxes only!!!!!!!
palmcoaster says
Our Waste Pro workers do and excellent work in our street. I give them a Christmas cash present in the holidays and wait till I see them coming by and had it to them, given the type of work they do. Some newcomers really abuse the system like improperly discarding their eatery business (to avoid paying the higher collection commercial rate)huge amount of refuse in their rental homes weekly pick up, then rats and wildlife come around at night disseminate it by ripping off the improper cheap plastic bags to feed and reproduce, like rats and expect the Waste Pro workers to clean it up and if not then complain. Where in the world a typical family of five will discard 10 plus cheap 30 gal plastic bags of refuse each full of edible discards twice a week? Then we have a rat infestation costing some neighbors upwards of 2,000 each to eradicate. Then a once a week will create further more rats infestations than we have now. Also the once a week will generate lay offs among the hauler contractor and Florida is well known for lack of jobs and then we end up paying their unemployment while they go hungry …how smart is that? If bidding is needed do a good work demanding to compare apples to apples in house, no need to spend $25,000 on a consultant when we pay more than capable employees to do that. Is that survey requested the 25,000 cost? Then there is no money for improvement for more needed safety projects. Our Waste Pro workers are not supposed to be sweeping the street from disseminated refuse on it overnight when improperly discarded. They are supposed to take the lid of your container and empty it on the truck and place it back in your right of way. That is all as far is my concern. Last time city changed from Waste Management to Waste Pro our rates went up…we better watch what we wish for. Also is time city starts monitoring those few that bring weekly to discard at home their businesses garbage to avoid paying the higher collection commercial hauler because is happening then rats population explodes among us.
Agkistrodon says
Since the last article ran i have noticed, now the garbage cans are neatly placed back where they were, not thrown across the yard or in the streets and dropped garbage seems to be getting picked up. Now REMEMBER this folks, while many have been complaining about wanting to work remotely due to fear of getting sick, these people do a dirty job and they have done it daily since this pandemic started. They do it, without a union, they do it without zoom sessions, and they do ot for not a lot of money, so perhaps give the front line service workers who hauled all your amazon garbage away a friggin break. Many will say they chose their jobs,….so did teachers nationwide.
CB from PC says
Twice per week is fine for trash
They pick up the yard waste and recyclables weekly.
Yeah, I wish they would flip the lid on the can closed so the rain doesn’t fill the can.
To the workers credit, it is a physically demanding job year round, and the trash stinks during the summer.
Thanks for picking it up.
If you have a problem, their customer service usually fixes it.
Keene says
It’s hard enough to pick up all the trash on Farragut three times a week. We have great service, let’s keep it and pay a little more. By “a little more”, I mean LITTLE more.
Charmayne Sharp says
I would suggest thst contractor supply large trash cans. The birds get into trash if not in a can.
GR says
To avoid birds from getting into the garbage bags spray or pour some ammonia on the bags. That is what I do and the birds never touch it.
For all the complainers and whiners just look at this video and see if you could do their job.
Fraser W says
We have had NO problems. The workers are courteous, helpful and accommodating to special needs. No matter who is working, we get the same results. We don’t understand the negativity from others.
DANIEL C. MANCHESTER says
The Garbage People Work Very Hard Continuesly on 80′ to 90’+ Days. The Crybabies ought to Try Keeping up with Them !! GIVE THEM ALITTLE THANKS & a Bottle of Water !
MikeM says
I get great service and have no complaints. In my opinion, I say leave well enough alone.
Zachary says
We’re quite pleased with the garbage service in Palm Coast. Positive changes IOP would be larger recycle bins, we’ve got a full house and those tiny blue bins fill up within a day, two tops. For our garbage bin, we purchased a large one with a lid, the kind you see being picked up and dumped with the mechanical arm. Cost us $80 or $90 bucks but no trash in the yard from the animals and buzzards.
~Z
Smile says
I’d like for ALL drivers in a recycle truck not to pull up in front of my house with sports-car-like quickness, at 6:45 am, blastin’ AC/DC, drop a wine bottle out of my recycle bin as he – a single pick up guy tryin’ to run his route early for the day – hastily tosses my recycles into the truck, and in the process drops a wine bottle [doesn’t hear the crash over highway to hell guitar riffs]….. THEN the driver picks up the broken bottle and accosts me, thrusting the broken jagged end towards my head and face taunting me telling me I put that in the bin to hurt him.. all this occurred as I walked down to say thank you and to collect the bin. I walked into this. Yea. I do not ever want that again. BTW Waste Pro – That was on surveillance and so are ALL of your pick-ups. ;-) at my house from now on. My cell was in pocket, honestly, did not think I had time to call 911. What a sad day that was, yall, Waste Pro, yall heard from me I’m sure you remember. Do I have PTSD? Maybe. Am I ready if this happens again, YUP.
Secondly, I’d like for my driveway NOT to be run over, cracked up by industrial tonnage trucks. Again, cameras are rolling. I will not, I repeat NOT, need to ask for “footage” from your trucks to determine cause of damage. Behave around my house. I’ve been more than well behaved. We’ll all be good if you guys are well behaved. Remember, it’s all on camera. ;)
Willy Boy says
They are the hardest working guys I see anywhere, including the lawn workers. I tip them, bag things up neatly, treat them with respect, and they respond by being friendly and not abusing my receptacles. – Now the price I pay for irrigation water! That’s a complaint.
elizabeth cutler says
I would not recommend any change in service.. any time there is a change it will only increase our costs!!.. the guys work hard and do a decent job… dont fix it if it isnt broken…. what needs to change is a decrease in our water bill.. that needs it more than anything.. there is no place i have lived where the charges are ridiculous.. that is what needs to change not the other..
Mitch says
We need to keep what we have; they are doing a great job – none of us have seen the waste left for any excessive days. If they were on strike for one week your tears would create rivers. It is one of the toughest jobs – can you image the diseases they are exposed to on a daily bases. Yes, they pick bags with human and animal wastes; bags with waste from sick people, etc. They pick up discarded items I know are over 50+/75+/100+ lbs. They pick trash that is not properly discarded. AND WE COMPLAIN – Try riding on the back for a while and you’ll be sick from being so close to what is discarded and the smell. These are people that have conditioned themselves to put up with our insensitivity as to what it takes to do that job. Have any of “us” ever visited any of them injuries on the job to see if we could help in some way – probably NO – after they service us weekly with not so much as a thanks.