County staff announces details regarding March 2025 changes in service
With two new contractors taking over garbage, recycling and yard waste collections in March 2025 in the unincorporated areas of Sarasota County, the Solid Waste Department has released key dates for customers, in preparation for the changes.
Pickup of both garbage and recyclables will be automated, county Solid Waste Department Director Brian Usher has pointed out. The process is safer and more efficient, with mechanical arms used to empty the contents of containers, a county news release says.
“Each residence will receive one garbage cart,” the release notes. A household may select a 95-gallon cart, a 65-gallon cart or a 35-gallon cart. The expense of that cart will be covered by the annual waste assessment on the property owner’s tax bill, the release adds.
“Property owners and residents will be able to request additional garbage carts,” the release says. However, because those will be considered a supplemental service, the “residents will be billed directly by their hauler for collection and disposal services.”
The release also points out, “More information about additional carts will be provided closer to the service transition.”
The key dates for residents are as follows, the release continues:
- Nov. 11 to Dec. 31 — Residents will select their preferred sizes for the new garbage carts.
- From January through March 2025 — the new carts will be delivered. • March 31, 2025 — Automated garbage collection will begin with the new franchise haulers.
As The Sarasota News Leader has reported, thanks to a County Commission vote on March 5, the county has been split into North and South districts. Waste Pro of Florida, which has offices in Clearwater and Fort Myers, will take over the collections in North County, while FCC Environmental Services won the South County franchise.
During a March 5 presentation to the commissioners, Usher of the Solid Waste Department explained, “We were one of the largest collection districts remaining in the state,” with Waste Management covering all of the unincorporated areas. The residential growth the county has seen, he indicated, was one major factor in the decision to establish the two districts.
Usher stressed that even with solid waste franchise expenses having risen between 40% and 150% in recent years, negotiating the best pricing for customers was not staff’s primary concern. “Of utmost importance to us,” he said, “was a focus on customer service, and we achieved that.”
Usher pointed out that the combined increase in the expense for Sarasota County, reflecting the two new providers’ contracts, is only 24%, compared to the expense of the current countywide Waste Management agreement.
In response to questions posed by Chair Michael Moran, Usher also addressed the advantages of the use of new technology provided for in the contracts.
He and his staff will be able to watch the collections proceed on a map, and video equipment will allow them to see in real time whether a route is missed, for example, Usher said. “We do not have access to that information now.”
Further, Usher noted, he and his staff will be able to look at photos that the companies can provide them, to determine what materials a customer had set out at the curb and how those were handled.
“There’s a lot of ability to be able to communicate better with the service provider,” he added.
County staff has created a webpage with detailed information about the changes ahead, including the timeline reflecting the process.
“Updates will be published on a regular basis to help keep residents and businesses informed about the timeline and process for the service transition, delivery of garbage carts, changes in service … and the FAQ [frequently asked questions] pages will be updated as new transition information becomes available,” the webpage says.
County customers may sign up here to receive notifications about the changes.