Pending changes to Manatee County's trash collection raises questions

Manatee County is pushing its new, streamlined plan for trash collection.

It’s been coined the “Big Bin Advantage” because residents will be given 96-gallon trash bins on wheels. However, some residents remain skeptical of the notion that bigger is better. 

Posts on the Nextdoor app regarding the new bins are receiving hundreds of comments, and a Change.org petition has 473 signatures asking the county to reverse its decision. 

So many residents are calling the county with questions that Utilities Deputy Director Chris Collins said temporary workers have been hired to answer calls strictly pertaining to trash collection.

The bins will start being delivered in mid-August, and the new, more automated trucks will start picking up Oct. 6. 

Collins met with the East County Observer to address the most frequently asked questions. 

Can I get a smaller bin?

Yes, but not until Jan. 2. 

Linda Clark, a 5-foot tall senior living in Lakewood Ranch, is concerned that a 96-gallon bin is too big to handle. If it is, the county will replace it with a smaller bin that is the same size as the blue recycling bin currently issued to residents.

A graphic that can be found on Nextdoor shows the new bins weighing 45 pounds empty, but that information is incorrect. The smaller bins weigh 27 pounds, and the big bins weigh 33 pounds. 

The big bins are 4 inches taller and 1 inch wider. Since the bins are on wheels, most people will be able to tilt and roll them to the curb fairly easily.

Photo by Lesley Dwyer

"They're definitely lighter than the cans you buy at Home Depot and Lowe's," Collins said. 

However, for those residents who either can't or don’t want to bring their bins to the curb, the hauler offers a door-to-truck service, where a worker will be assigned to get out of the truck to retrieve the bin for a fee. 

If a resident is medically unable to bring the bin to the curb, they can get a note from their doctor to fill out a medical waiver, which waives the fee.

Delivering the big bins first was simply an operational decision. 

The county has to deliver 189,000 bins between August and October, a feat Collins described as a “logistical nightmare” all on its own without having to determine which size bin is delivered where. 

Logistics aside, larger bins will likely make sense for homes that produce a lot of trash because, as of Oct. 6, trash collection is being reduced from twice a week to once a week. 

The trucks are automated, so they only require a driver who also operates a mechanical lift-and-dump system. 

While some residents have expressed concern that the automation will force county employees to lose their jobs, the county contracts with two franchise haulers. 

County employees will not be affected by the transition. 

Why will I get half the service for the same monthly rate? 

Esplanade's Debbie Johnson doesn't have a problem with once-a-week collection, but she does question why the price isn't being reduced to coincide with a service cut. 

Collins said the haulers’ costs have continued to increase since the original contracts were signed in 2008. Customers saw a rate increase in 2015 and again in 2023. 

In 2023, rates were increased by 65% to keep from going into the negative. Had the county maintained twice a week service, the monthly rates would have shot up even more.

Instead of signing new contracts, the county used its final 10-year extension. New contracts will have to be negotiated and signed in 2033. 

Collins said the increased costs of vehicles and fuel on the haulers' end are being passed down to the county, especially as the county sprawls and they have more terrain to cover. 

While residents have to give up that extra day of pickup with no short-term savings, he noted that there are long-term savings to consider, such as less required maintenance of county roads. 

"They are heavy, massive trucks," Collins said. "They put a lot of wear and tear on the roads." 

Not only will the roads hold up better, the trucks won't slow down as much traffic either.

Instead of solid waste, yard waste and recycling being picked up on three different days, the new system will consolidate those pickups into one day. 

Each bin will continue to be picked up by a different truck, just on the same day. The bins need to be placed 3 feet apart and 3 feet away from mailboxes, cars or any other obstructions, so the truck's arm can safely reach the bin. 

“This automated collection once a week isn’t something new,” Collins said. “It’s something that’s going on nationwide.”

Another long-term savings can be found in the welfare of workers. It’s not only unsafe to ride on the back of a truck in traffic, but the workers that have to pick up those heavy cans are prone to back injuries. 

What should I do with my old garbage bin?

Collins suggests using the old bin for yard waste because, as of Oct. 1, yard waste in plastic bags will no longer be collected. 

Yard waste will have to be in bins, bundles or paper lawn and leaf bags. Yard waste that is not properly disposed of will be left behind. 

The alternative to finding a new use for old bins is to set the old ones on the curb with a note that reads, "Remove garbage container," and they'll be collected during the transition. 

What about garbage that doesn’t fit in the bin? 

Because of the automated arm with just one driver, only the county-issued bins will be picked up each week. Garbage cans, plastic bags and big items will no longer be collected weekly. 

Residents will have to prearrange a pickup by calling 792-8811 or using the county's 311 system. 

Extra pickups will also require a fee. The rates will be calculated by item or by cubic yard, which is 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet or about the size of a dishwasher. 

Courtesy image

Another option is that residents can drop off their bulk items to the Lena Road Landfill. That, too, will cost additional fees.

"Change takes getting used to," Collins said. "(The haulers) are going to continue to pick stuff up and give people some time to get used to it, but that's going to fade out." 

He also noted that the haulers are not changing, so they already know the neighborhoods and people along their routes.

While the transition will take place in the height of hurricane season, Collins said the transition date in October was a "strategic decision." 

Contract haulers remove hurricane debris, too, so that doesn't affect day-to-day operations much, but holidays do.

According to the collection numbers, the highest trash months are November and December. 

"We wanted to make sure people had their big bins prior to that," Collins said. "They can get used to it and see that it can be valuable to have that size bin." 

Visit MyManatee.org/bigbin for additional information.