- April 19, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
The Palm Coast city government is fining trash hauler Waste Pro $7,500 over service delays that occurred in March.
The city issued a news release April 1 referring to the delays as "unacceptable" lapses and stating that the city "is holding Waste Pro accountable through measures such as fines" while working to resolve the issue. The fine comes as the city prepares to go out to bid in May for a new solid waste hauling contract.
"The city is proactively communicating with temporary staffing services, private and public waste haulers, and other municipalities to assist," the news release state. "All of these options will be a charge to Waste Pro and not at a cost to residents.
Palm Coast's contract with Waste Pro requires pickups between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on designated days.
“Residents in our recent Solid Waste survey have overwhelming rated consistent and timely pickups as being a top priority. That is the level of service we contracted for, what our residents are paying for, and what is expected."
— MATT MORTON, Palm Coast city manager
The city and county government have both complained about missed pickups in the past, and Palm Coast has assessed a fine against the waste hauler for every month since October 2020 for missed or late pickup, including a $2,000 fine in February.
Overall fines assessed for 2020 totaled $4,280. The previous year, the total had been $43,385, in large part because of a $14,510 fine that January.
Fines for the 2020 calendar year were $1,000 or less per month, with four months — February, March, August and September — resulting in no fines. The city had also assessed fines against Waste Pro for all but one month of 2019, including a $14,510 fine for January.
The city has encouraged people whose trash isn't picked up in that time frame on their designated day to call the city's customer service number at 386-986-2360, email [email protected] or submitting a case on palmcoastconnect.com
“Residents in our recent Solid Waste survey have overwhelming rated consistent and timely pickups as being a top priority,” City Manager Matthew Morton said, according to the news release. “That is the level of service we contracted for, what our residents are paying for, and what is expected. We will continue to work diligently to get this matter resolved.”
