ECUA Finalizes Garbage And Recyclables Plan For North Escambia; Service Begins January 1

November 10, 2008

The Emerald Coast Utilities had finalized a garbage and recyclables program that will being in North Escambia and rest of the county on January 1.

ECUA takes over current North Escambia Allied Waste customers on January 1. Monday, the ECUA board adopted a program of once-a-week garbage collection with  a voluntary once-a-week recyclables collection at a monthly rate for all customers of $17.99. An additional fuel recovery fee will be added to that amount.

Both the recyclables and the waste cans will be picked up on the same day, a change from the plan the board originally approved that called for the garbage and recyclables to be picked up on different days. A second can for regular garbage may be used for an additional charge of $3 per month.  Both cans for regular garbage will be picked up on the same day of the week.

District 5 ECUA representative Larry Walker made a motion to adopt a program of once-a-week garbage collection and voluntary participation in once-a-week recyclables collection at a monthly rate of $18.43.  Customers who chose to not receive the recyclables collection would pay $17.52. The motion failed with no second.

“My motive in making this motion was to offer the lowest possible base charges, given that the majority appeared to be insistent on once-a-week service for pickup of regular garbage,” Walker said.

District 3 member Elvin McCorvey made a motion, seconded by Walker, to adopt a program of twice-a-week pickup of regular garbage and once-a-week pickup of recyclables.  McCorvey argued that many customers genuinely need twice-a-week pickup of regular garbage, and Walker was sympathetic to that argument.  This motion failed by a 3-2 vote, with McCorvey and Walker in the minority.

A motion was made to adopt a program of once-a-week garbage collection and voluntary participation in once-a-week recyclables collection at a monthly rate for all customers of $17.99.  There will be no reduction in the monthly charge for those who decline to use the recyclables collection service.  This motion was adopted by a 3-2 vote, with McCorvey and Walker in the minority. The plan begins January 1.

ECUA staff was directed to decide whether collection of regular garbage and collection of recyclables will be made on the same day or on different days of the week.  If done on separate days, the base rate will have to be increased by 20 cents per month, Walker said.

The current monthly charge, both of ECUA and of Allied, is $19.62 plus a fuel recovery fee..  The new program will have a base charge of $17.99 plus the fuel charge.  Customers who participate in recyclables collection will receive two cans of pickup per week, as they do now, but with the requirement that only designated recyclable materials may be put in the recyclables can.


Comments

5 Responses to “ECUA Finalizes Garbage And Recyclables Plan For North Escambia; Service Begins January 1”

  1. Larry Walker on November 15th, 2008 12:18 am

    Bratt Resident:
    Both ECUA and Allied charge a fuel recovery fee (FRF) at this time, as do many businesses and governmental entities. ECUA’s FRF is set on a quarterly schedule. It is based on the price of fuel at the Port of Pensacola. The FRF will be adjusted again for the first quarter of 2009 (January-March). It will not be eliminated, but it will be LOWER than the current FRF. It will go up or down as the cost of fuel goes up or down.

  2. MARGARET & JACK MCCULLOUH on November 11th, 2008 7:46 pm

    why can’t they do something for escambia county. florida without coast? can you imagine what this is going to put a burden on people with limited income? If you can’t help us, don’t hurt us anymore. we should have free garbage pick up.put the prisioners back on road camp again and let this be a free/ good thing for the people of Florida

  3. William on November 11th, 2008 7:38 am

    other bratt resident :

    The total is $17.99, not $18.43.

  4. other bratt resident on November 11th, 2008 7:33 am

    for all you people that wanted the county to take over. look at the price it started out at 17.99 now were up to 18.43 and add on the 3.00 for two cans now you up to 21.43. it wont be long before you wont have a choice. its not to late if you dont like it then get up and do something.

  5. Bratt Resident on November 10th, 2008 4:59 pm

    Can’t wait to see that fuel recovery charge. This should be eliminated now that gas has gone down, but I betcha it doesn’t and will go up at the drop of a hat. I am willing to wager we will be paying more for this garbage pick up in just a few months once the honeymoon is over!

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News