CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – In Clay County, changes introduced by a new trash provider are causing frustration among some families, leading to multiple petitions urging county commissioners to take action.
On Oct. 1, the trash provider FCC Environmental Services took over garbage services in Clay County, and some of the new changes are coming with new costs and old frustrations.
One of the petition organizers told News4JAX that the new service, which requires families to purchase new bins or overflow stickers for trash exceeding the one bin provided to residents, is too costly.
Ryan Higginbotham, a Clay County resident, told News4AJAX that FCC will only empty trash put in their provided bins.
“Just one trashcan for six people,” Higginbotham said about the one can FCC will remove. As for his personal trashcans, they are still full of trash.
Higginbotham told News4JAX he can’t afford another bin and that he’s had other trouble with pickup. For those reasons, he and other residents have created three petitions calling for FCC to be terminated or for commissioners to solve the problem.
Waste bins the new provider will take can be leased, but the price is steep for many. News4JAX found that an approved 95-gallon garbage cart can be leased for $66, and a 65-gallon cart for $61. Plus, there’s a separate quarterly collection service fee of $15.33. And, in order for the personal trashcan to be picked up, residents must purchase overflow stickers -- priced at $4 each-- to put on each bag in the personal trashcan.
Another resident in Clay County hopes those petitions solve the problem. Until then, she plans to solve her one trashcan problem by burning waste.
“It’s not a good thing to do for the environment and it can create hazards but it’s like again what do we do,” Oksana Gereaue, a Clay County resident, told News4JAX.
Back in August, St. Johns County terminated its contract with FCC Environmental Services less than a month after beginning waste services amid complaints from thousands of residents over service disruptions.
Related: New garbage service starts Oct. 1 in Clay County. Here’s what you need to know about your trash pickup | As Clay County rolls out new trash services, some worry about company’s past troubles in St. Johns County
With the new agreement, curbside recycling is no longer available due to “unprecedented cost increases” to residents. According to the county, adding curbside recycling to the new agreement would have increased the cost to residents now and even more over the next 10 years, officials said in February.
News4JAX reached out to FCC Environmental Services and Clay County for comment on the petitions or if there would be a point when they gave residents another free trash bin.
Laura Christmas, the Director of Communications for Clay County, provided News4JAX with the following statement:
“We are aware of petitions started by residents regarding our new trash service. FCC Environmental Services started on October 1, and has a 99.38% success rate. This service is similar to what dozens of other counties in Florida use for garbage service, with a similar size can. Residents can report any issues they experience online, and we have a link on claycountygov.com.”
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