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There is a lot of trash talk going on in the Brandon area this month, but it’s not the kind that would make your mom want to wash your mouth out with soap. Hillsborough County Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) is currently in contract negotiations with the three current solid waste collection service companies and they are hosting a series of public meetings to allow residents the opportunity to express their opinions on the subject.
At the meetings, staff members explain the contracts under negotiation with Liberty Waste, LLC, Waste Management of Tampa and Republic Waste Services and explain to residents the issues the county plans to improve with the new contract.
"There are some things in the contract we are looking to tighten up in the arena as it relates to quality assurance and there may be other issues the public can tell us about when in terms of their service experiences that we help us to communicate that to the Board of County Commissioners," said public information director James Ransom. "We want to make sure residents have the chance to talk to us about their experiences and to help us make good decisions with this contract."
Valrico resident Rick Dukes was impressed by the response of the new SWMD director, Barry Boldissar. "I believe this gentleman going to help the community, because it has been a dead end situation with the county until tonight," said Dukes.
During the meeting, Dukes expressed concerns about the rate of speed the current garbage collectors come through the residential neighborhood, fearing they may one day injure a resident. Boldissar, who comes to Hillsborough County with nearly eighteen years experience managing integrated solid waste management, most recently as general manager of the City of Tallahassee's Solid Waste Services Department, responded that all concerns for public safety should be directly taken to him, as he takes those complaints very seriously.
The largest complaint expressed during the meeting was the lack of customer service provided by the three current waste companies. Resident after resident spoke of unreliable pick up dates, a lack of quality control and poor customer service.
"We are looking to have a drastically different contract with the three current service providers," said Boldissar, "We want to provide solutions for the major complainants, mostly related to customer service."
The current contract expires December 30, 2008.
Overall, residents feel that progress was made at the meeting. "I've been trying for two years to get the county to get waste management to quit terrorizing our communities with their garbage service. For whatever reason, it's taken me two years to get this conversation tonight. But I feel we really accomplished something tonight." Dukes added.
For more information on contract negotiations or any other subject relating to waste management, log onto http://hillsboroughcounty.org/solidwaste.
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