Florida city adjusts trash rates, could increase collection days

Port St. Lucie residents will vote Nov. 3 on increasing collection and they could receive $364 credit.

PORT ST. LUCIE − City Council members and residents have been, and will continue to be, talking trash, as garbage disposal has become a big issue in the city.

The City Council, on July 27, raised the annual residential trash, recycling and yard waste bill rate by nearly $15 to $482 because of inflation and other expenses. Last month, the council voted to place a question on the Nov. 3 ballot asking residents if they supported increasing the number of trash collection days from one to two. The vote is non-binding.

In 2022 — amidst a garbage-collection crisis that left some Port St. Lucie residents without pickup for weeks — hauler WastePro terminated its contract with the city three years early. The city signed a new contract with FCC Environmental Services, but it cut pickups by 50%.

At a special meeting on June 15, the Port St. Lucie City Council approved a plan to allocate funds from the city’s $24 million lawsuit settlement with Waste Pro of Florida.

Port St. Lucie homeowners could receive $364

According to the plan:

• Of the 95,159 properties that received solid waste collection service, 57,242 have had the same owner since 2022. These households bore the direct impacts of the service failure and will receive the highest credit: $364.
• Another 24,676 properties will receive a $64 credit.
• The same $64 credit will be provided to the 13,241 new properties.
• Residents who sold a home and purchased another within the city during the same period may submit documentation showing continuous ownership. A 180‑day claims window would allow these households to receive the remaining $300 credit on the following year’s tax bill.

The city and Waste Pro reached a settlement agreement on April 10 that resolved the legal dispute related to their prior solid waste collection contract. The lawsuit cited issues related to Waste Pro’s performance and subsequent premature cancellation of its multi-year contract with the city, which forced Port St. Lucie to quickly find a new contracted waste hauler.

Tim O’Hara is TCPalm’s St. Lucie watchdog, environment and fisheries reporter. Contact him at tim.ohara@tcpalm.com.