Polk County trash-collection fees projected to rise more than 63% in October

The trash collection and disposal fee for Polk County residents will jump 63.35% in the first of five years of increases, according to presentations to the county commissioners.

Dale Henderson, the county's waste and recycling director, gave a presentation at the April 12 agenda review showing that by 2029, the assessment for trash and disposal will rise significantly above the current rate of $206.50 annually.

“As required, Polk County issued a competitive bid for the new collection contract which begins on October 1, 2024,” Henderson said. “The bids received reflect the contractor’s increased cost of doing business resulting from current economic conditions. The proposed year-one assessment reflects the increase in contract collection rates.”

Next fiscal year, which starts in October, the rate goes to $337.33, he said. That’s a 63.35% increase in the non-ad valorem annual assessment.

Curbside recycling will end on Oct. 1, and the last day to obtain wheeled recycling carts would be May 1.

The county recently approved contracts with FCC Environmental and GFL Environmental for trash collection services that begin Oct. 1 and run through Dec. 31, 2029. This timeline includes three one-year renewals that each must be approved by the commissioners.

Under the terms of the new contract, residential trash collection would be once per week for the roll carts. And then four times each year, the contractor will collect up to five additional plastic bags of residential waste.

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Yard waste will be collected once each week with a limit of four collection containers and separate tied bundles.

Furniture and appliances would have a day each month for residents to set out at the curb. But large items stemming from evictions, move-outs, renovations and abandonments are not included.

The base rate is different for each of the haulers because the areas of the county they will cover have different housing densities. There are other factors, such as the travel time by the hauler to and from disposal sites and the potential for travel along unimproved roads, among other factors.

The base rates for Oct. 1 through Jan. 31, 2025, were $24.95 per unit per month for GFL and $18.96 per unit per month for FCC.

Once recycling stops, customers can use the wheeled recycling carts for yard waste or trash or they can request the county remove it.

Residents who want a second 65-gallon roll cart would pay a $67 one-time fee. Starting Oct. 1, there will be no charge for using a second one.

Henderson’s rate increases were based on growth projections provided by the Polk County Building Division for the unincorporated areas of the county. There is an annual 5% supplemental rate increase in the new contract, which is the base rate the contractors charge for collection of solid waste within the contract.

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There will also be a 3.8% administration fee for purchase of roll carts for replacement and maintenance. The annual disposal assessment will remain the same over the five-year contract.

At the commissioners' annual retreat, Henderson said the current assessment of $206.50 was from the 2015 bid pricing.

He also reviewed the new 2024 pricing and found it was consistent with increases nationwide and other economic factors, including the increased costs of labor, insurance, equipment, property, fuel, oil and parts necessary to maintain equipment, to mention a few.

In explaining the increase, Henderson said the volume of trash generated per house has also increased because solid waste pickups will end up containing recyclable materials in the new contracts. Plus, the growth in the county was a factor.

By the summer, residents will see postcards explaining the new rates and pickup schedules once the days have been confirmed. Information will also go out in a social media campaign until December.

Henderson’s division will place stickers on roll carts to also provide pickup schedules.

To avoid confusion, the new trucks the county has obtained will be rebranded with the word recycling taken off. Although recycling at the landfill will continue.