Trash consolidation picks up speed
BY FRANKLIN HAYES Gulf Breeze News franklin@gulfbreezenews.com

As many as five garbage collection companies currently serve parts of South Santa Rosa County, but the County Commissioners may soon change that. The move to consolidate residential trash pickup is gaining momentum among county commissioners. On Feb. 22 commissioners decided to schedule a public hearing at a future meeting to consider the advisability of setting up a franchise system in the south end. Although commissioners did not determine a specific date for the hearing, they did express their support for the idea. Commissioners also seemed to agree that the north and central sections of the county would remain under the current multiple provider system.

"All I hear from residents is that we'd like to have better recycling and better large item pickup," said Commissioner John Broxson of Gulf Breeze. "If those who are north of East Bay River don't want to be apart of it, that's fine."

Currently, county residents must take their recyclable items to predetermined recycling centers and there is no provision for large item pickup. Commissioners would like to develop their franchise area to resemble the system in Okaloosa County, where those services are included.

"The sole provider in Okaloosa County is charging less than any of our providers," said Commissioner Gordon Goodin of Navarre.

The effort has become somewhat controversial, as some see it as a free enterprise issue and feel that government shouldn't interfere in the open market.

"I think going to one hauler is a dangerous thing," said David Fenton, owner of Patriot Waste Service. "I cut rates by 20 to 40 percent and I'm the only company I know of that offers a senior or disabled discount... I would hate to see companies that raise rates and don't offer the same discounts that I do be rewarded for doing that."

Fenton said he purchased the residential garbage routes from Pot-O-Gold and currently serves approximately 5,000 customers in the south end.

Rory Cassedy with Waste Management, a garbage hauler that also serves approximately 5,000 customers in southern Santa Rosa, said he believes franchising the south end is the right thing to do.

"I look at trash service as a utility," Cassedy said. "It's not a retail service, it's a utility service."

Waste Management currently serves an estimated 22,000 in Okaloosa County and would respond positively if county commissioners decide to consolidate services in the south end, Cassedy said.

If county representatives do decide to award a contract to a sole provider, they are required by law to either give all other carriers three year's advance notice or pay all displaced companies an amount equal to their last 15 months of gross receipts for that area.