Council approves extra pickup, asks for trash strategy after complaints about mattresses and illegal dumping

Council members voted Jan. 28 to add an extra collection route in problem neighborhoods and to coordinate with community volunteer groups after persistent public complaints about illegal dumping, mattress piles and litter.

Several council members and residents described recurring illegal dumping on South Street and the city’s south end where multifamily complexes lack adequate dumpster service. Public Works staff said the city currently responds to called-in bulk pickups and runs scheduled routes; the city’s transfer station operations were affected by recent changes and hurricane cleanup and bulk collection schedules were running behind.

Countermeasures approved by council included a short-term increase in collection frequency (an overtime route targeted to problem blocks), directing staff to explore additional routing, and a request for the city manager to coordinate with county bus service (to add trash cans at county bus stops) and with code enforcement to enforce repeat violators. Council also asked staff to pursue an education and outreach campaign and to work with volunteer groups such as Tidy Up Titusville and Keep Brevard Beautiful. Council members asked staff to review zoning/site-design remedies encouraging dumpsters for multi-family properties when developments lack appropriate on-site service.

Staff said adding an extra route would use overtime and might be temporary; they agreed to return with options for longer-term solutions including targeted enforcement, revised collection schedules, and potential capital or contract changes to provide dumpster service in areas that lack it.

Council expressed interest in a public information campaign to change local behavior and encouraged continued volunteer coordination. The motion to add targeted pickup and to pursue the longer-term strategy carried unanimously.