ECUA Finally Finalizes Trash And Recycling Program For Next Year

November 21, 2008

The final details have been worked out on the new trash and recycling program that will replace Allied Waste in North Escambia this January.

The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority approved the plan Thursday night, setting the price for one 90-gallon trash can pickup per week at $17.99 plus a fuel surcharge. An additional can that would picked up on the same day as the first will be $3 per month. A 90-gallon recycling  can will available to customers that wish to recycle at no additional charge.

A customer’s residential waste, recyclables and yard debris will all be picked up on the same day.

Currently, Allied Waste has two 90-gallon trash can pickups per week for $19.62 plus a fuel surcharge. That’s the same rate that current ECUA customers pay in the southern half of the county.

Allied turns their residential franchise in all of North Escambia except for the Town of Century on January 1. In exchange, Allied will gain ECUA commerical dumpster customers, and Allied will allow ECUA to use its transfer stations to shorten trips on garbage trucks.

Residential waste customers in Century will continue to have their trash service provided by Allied Waste under a franchise agreement with the town.  The ECUA recycling service will not be available to Century residents. Century residents that wish to recycle can take their recyclable materials to a collection container located in the parking lot of the Century Courthouse.

Thursday night was actually the fourth time ECUA had taken action on the recycling program. The board took action in April, October and earlier in November on the program, making changes each time.

Comments

4 Responses to “ECUA Finally Finalizes Trash And Recycling Program For Next Year”

  1. Larry Walker on December 3rd, 2008 12:58 pm

    Jackie,
    As the District 5 representative on the ECUA board, I am completely aware of the entire length and breadth of my district, which includes the North End.
    ECUA will have a single residential-sanitation program, with a common level of service for all 73,000 households, from Perdido Key to Davisville.
    If you should have questions/opinions now about the ECUA sanitation program or should later have complaints, just let me know at 723-6094 or larry@larrywalker.com.

    Brenda,
    I understand your concern. Two responses:
    First, with respect to the quantity of service, it actually will be the same for most households that choose to accept the recyclables collection service. One pickup of a 90-gallon can of regular garbage plus one pickup of a op-gallon can of recyclables = the same maximum volume of pickup as is currently provided by ECUA and by Allied.
    Second, with respect to the frequency of service–and this appears to me to be your principal concern–yes, there may be problems of odor, flies, etc. I hope not, but it may be a problem. It is possible that ECUA will review the program after a few months and consider going back to twice-a-week pickup. On the other hand, I wouldn’t bet big bucks on that happening.
    In the final voting on the new program, I supported a motion to retain the twice-a-week service, but the motion failed, 2-3. There is nothing more that I can do at this time regarding the details of the new program.
    I invite you to let me know, at any time, how the program is working for you. Customer feedback is the only basis on which change in the program could be considered.

    Larry Walker
    District 5 member, ECUA

  2. Brenda on November 23rd, 2008 9:45 pm

    My only disappointment with ECUA becoming our service is that we will only have one pickup per week opposed to two by Allied Waste. I am especially concerned about summer, the potential problems and odors this will cause. I personally do not wish to have trash sitting around my home for a week at a time.

    Is it a possibility that there could be two pickups at least in the summer months? I sincerely hope so.
    Thanks

  3. William on November 21st, 2008 4:26 pm

    Jackie…yes. All of Escambia County except those in the Town of Century and the City of Pensacola.

  4. Jackie Johnson on November 21st, 2008 4:24 pm

    Does this mean Bratt and Walnut Hill Residents? Normally the north end stops at the nine mile road anything north of nine mile road is in never never land. We have Century addresses, but don’t live within the city limits.
    Thanks