Manatee County resident voices concern about trash pickup

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — As trash piles up, at least one Manatee County resident is raising a stink.

The county’s Big Bin Advantage program was meant to save the Solid Waste Department time and resources. It provided larger bins, but decreased the frequency of trash pickup

But, according to Amanda Vouglas, that formula is not working.  

“We have so much trash generated that the trash can is overflowing,” she said.

Vouglas lives in Parrish in a household of four people and says trash accumulates quickly.

“By the time Friday comes around, I’m sure we’ll have, like, an extra three or four more bags,” she said of her trash pickup day.

When the Big Bin Advantage program started in Manatee County last October, it came with a bigger bin — 96 gallons — but pickup was scaled back to once a week.

Vouglas said the worst experience was this past Christmas, when it took two weeks to get rid of their trash.

“Every week we put a little bit more in, a little bit more in, and then we sent some with my daughter to put in her trash at home, because it’s just her and her boyfriend,” she said.

When Vouglas’ trash starts piling up, she said it becomes a problem, because the haulers won’t take trash that isn’t in the bin. She said she relies on friends and family to help get rid of it.

Jim Renneberg with Manatee County Solid Waste said residents do have other options.

“One option is to contact the county, and we can coordinate a bulk pickup,” he said. “There is a fee associated with that. For those that would prefer not to take that approach, we have the community cleanup event.”

The county hosted its first two community cleanup events last weekend. Renneberg said more than 1,000 cars dropped off more than 100 tons of material. He said the county expects to host more events moving forward and hopes they will help prevent illegal dumping.

“Looking at December compared to previous years, there’s a slight increase, but our team is quick to respond to that,” he said.

According to the Manatee County Solid Waste Department’s website, residents also have the option to pay a $13.32 monthly fee to receive a second trash bin.

But Vouglas said less frequent trash pickups create a health concern.

“It’s sat in my garage,” she said. “Every time we opened up the door to the house — the smell, the heat in the garage. Florida. You know, it’s not really sanitary.”

She hopes the county will return to twice-a-week trash pickup.

The next community cleanup event will be in April. The county plans to host the events throughout the year..