The gap widens

[BJackson]

Garbage service north of Highway 20 was originally provided by Dayco. They picked up bulk household waste the 1st Monday of the month. When Waste Management took over their route, I assume they continued that service. The downside to garbage pickup north of Highway 20 is that pickup is only provided once per week. There is no regularly scheduled bulk household pickup south of Highway 20 but garbage is picked up twice per week.

 

[Danny Glidewell]

Bob Wells, you are on the money ( no pun intended) Garbage pickup is paid for by a local option tax. When the issue first came up the voters narrowly defeated the non-binding referendum but the BCC implemented the tax anyways. I voted no to the tax but IMHO I was wrong and the decision to proceed was a very good one. However, the funds collected are in excess of expenditures most years and the BCC has used those funds to pay for all sorts of stuff including patrol cars and road paving.

 

[Bob Wells]

So if they pay for other stuff beside waste management, shouldn't waste management be the primary focus of that penny. For those that are interested in recycling or bulk pick up maybe this is the avenue to address those request. If it can be paid for with an existing revenue stream it would make sense, don't you think?

 

[Danny Glidewell]

They have enough trouble agreeing to pay for a much needed new transfer station at the landfill with the money. Anyone who has been to the landfill knows the present station is dangerous.

 

[Matt J]

IIRC the blue bags were discontinued because the county was paying for them and couldn't afford them after the bubble popped.

 

[Teresa]

The blue bags were a good step, if lame, but still a step..

 

[Jim Tucker]

1. Curbside Recycling Please! Shouldn't we be able to figure out a way to at least cover the cost? Waste Management is huge. Their PR department is always looking for ways to present themselves as a green company. If anyone knows, they probably have programs other places. How do they work?

2. All residences should have the large commercial containers with lids that are bear proof. Our streets are a mess, especially during busy rental times. Garbage overflows into the streets. Sad excuses for garbage cans (owned by property owners) are not adequate. Often there are six at a residence and their are still bags piled up.

3. Property owners (rental agents & cleaning crews) need to do their part. Saturdays with rentals are tough! One or 2 of the commercial cans should be provided by Waste Management. Large residences should be required to purchase more if needed. And replace them as necessary. There will be resistance but an adequate and efficient system will benefit everyone.

 

[Teresa]

Just one more thing that our community really needs that won't be addressed. Can you imagine the waste in a beach town like ours with so many visitors? Residents want good waste management and recycling and visitors must wonder, coming from other cities, what kind of recycling program is hidden in South Walton that they just don't know about.

 

[Matt J]

If you read the information about garbage collection it limits each "residence" to 4 cans. I use quotations as some of these are anything but residences.

I don't see wildlife being a problem, I see people over filling cans and weather doing the spreading. It would really help if tourists knew the trash schedule as many seem to wait until Friday night to put out all of their trash.

 

[Misty]

Just one more thing that our community really needs that won't be addressed. Can you imagine the waste in a beach town like ours with so many visitors? Residents want good waste management and recycling and visitors must wonder, coming from other cities, what kind of recycling program is hidden in South Walton that they just don't know about.

Not all tourists are as conscientious as you think. They are on vacation and I hardly think recycling is at the top ten list of things they plan to do in SoWal. If it really is....those big blue containers are pretty hard to miss.