County Invites Resident to Talk Trash

The way garbage, recyclables and yard waste are collected in unincorporated Hillsborough County could be changing in October 2013. The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners wants to know what residents think about the new garbage collection options.

As the current solid waste contracts are almost 15 years old, Hillsborough County has asked for bids on four residential collection service options for garbage, recyclables and yard waste. These service options include:

• Service Option #1: This is the same as current service- household garbage to be collected twice a week in customer-provided containers; customers to sort recyclables into county-provided green and blue bins for collection once a week; and yard waste to be collected once a week in customer-provided containers and/or bundles. This may be referred to as 2-1-1 Manual Collection Service.

• Service Option #2: Household garbage to be collected twice a week in hauler-provided roll carts; recyclables to be collected once per week in hauler-provided roll carts; and yard waste to be collected once a week in customer-provided containers and/or bundles. This may be referred to as 2-1-1 Automated Collection Service.

• Service Option #3: Household garbage to be collected once a week in hauler-provided roll carts; recyclables to be collected once a week in hauler-provided roll carts; and yard waste to be collected once a week in customer-provided containers and/or bundles. This may be referred to as 1-1-1 Automated Collection Service.

• Service Option #4: Household garbage to be collected once a week in hauler-provided roll carts; recyclables to be collected every other week in hauler-provided roll carts, and yard waste to be collected once a week in customer-provided containers and/or bundles. This may be referred to as 1-½ -1 Automated Collected Service.

Residents pay for garbage, recyclables and yard waste collection service through an annual non-ad valorem assessment on property tax bills. This method of billing would remain the same for any of the new contract options.

More information and details are available on the Talk Trash webpage. Additional details on the service options and fees will be posted before the first public meeting.

There are many ways to let your voice be heard:

1. Voice your thoughts on our blog on the Talk Trash webpage.

2. Send an email to talktrash@HillsboroughCounty.org.

3. Text or call to leave a message at 813-704-0181.

4. Call in to the Tele-Town Hall on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 6:30 p.m. (more details available soon on the Talk Trash webpage).

5. Participate in the phone survey if you are called.

6. Attend one of five public meetings where the service options and fees will be outlined in greater detail. Each public meeting also will be broadcast live over the Internet so residents who can’t attend in person may log in and comment through live chat. Each public meeting’s video will then be posted on the Talk Trash webpage.

Tuesday, Nov. 27 from 6:30 p.m. at Progress Village Recreation Center, 8701 Progress Blvd. in Tampa

Saturday, Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. at SouthShore Regional Service Center, 410 30thSt. SE in Ruskin

Monday, Dec. 3 from 6:30 p.m. at Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library, 11211 Countryway Blvd. in Tampa

Tuesday, Dec. 4 from 6:30 p.m. at Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave. in Tampa

Thursday, Dec. 6 from 6:30 p.m. at Strawberry Crest High School, 4691 Gallagher Rd. in Dover

The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners will take public comments, service options and their prices into consideration in a board workshop on Jan. 10 before awarding service contracts.

History

The current solid waste contracts were put in place almost 15 years ago, within three distinct collection districts. While these contracts have been extended and renegotiated once during this time, the service levels, collection methods and franchise haulers remained unchanged.

Through these contracts, Hillsborough County residential solid waste customers receive curbside household garbage pickup two days a week, as well as one recyclables collection and one yard waste collection per week. Residents use their own containers for household garbage and yard waste collections; green and blue bins are provided for residents to sort their recyclables into categories designated by the county. This is known as 2-1-1 service where all materials are collected manually.

The current contracts expire on Sept. 30, 2013.