Board approves new recycling processing contract and adopts solid‑waste ordinance, rate changes and updated landfill fees

The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners adopted a set of changes to the county’s solid‑waste rules and rates and awarded a contract for processing recycling commodities as the county begins a new consolidated franchise hauling system in October.

What the board approved: - Ordinance 25‑28: Amendments to the County Code chapter on solid waste and recycling to align municipal code language with the new franchise hauling agreements. The ordinance clarifies cart sizing and change limits, medical rear‑door accommodations, and improperly prepared waste fees. The board voted to adopt the ordinance (final adoption vote: unanimous). - Resolution R‑25‑148: Amending and restating collection rates, fees and special charges for collection franchises. The board approved the resolution keeping the standard residential fee bundle unchanged but adding new line‑items: bulk‑item charge ($59 each residential), improperly prepared yard/solid waste fees, gate service and rollout service fees for commercial customers, and a lien authority on unpaid collection bills over 60 days. The resolution passed unanimously. - Resolution R‑25‑149: Revised landfill tipping fees and related rates at the Lehner Road landfill. The board approved an update to tipping fees that includes a larger increase for scrap tires to better reflect disposal costs and generally aligns rates with surrounding jurisdictions’ pricing. The board also adopted an annual indexing mechanism (annually tied to a garbage index) to keep landfill rates current. - Recycling processing contract: The board approved execution of an agreement with Circular Services (awardee reported in staff presentation) for recycling processing at $100/ton with a revenue‑share arrangement when commodity prices exceed that baseline. The contractor is local to the region (Sarasota area) and will accept the county’s recyclables beginning with the October hauling changes. Motion to execute the agreement passed unanimously.

Why the changes were made: County utilities staff and outside consultants presented the new contracting and fee structure as part of an overhaul of the county’s franchise hauling system. Utilities staff said separating processing from collection reduced hidden costs in prior contracts and produced a lower per‑ton processing cost, while giving the county a direct contractual relationship with a regional processor. The county also updated landfill tipping fees to reflect 10 years of stable pricing and to reduce out‑of‑county diversion.

Public response and outreach: Residents raised multiple concerns during public comment and at the dais: questions about which bin (blue for recycling vs. 96‑gallon gray for trash), placement and collection times, how to request pickups after missed service, bulk‑item charges, impacts on seniors and renters, and handling of yard waste. Utilities staff said the county will continue an intensive outreach campaign (bill inserts, HOA briefings, social media, radio, community meetings, tours of the processor) and asked residents to report missed pickups via the county 311 system so liquidated damages provisions in the new franchise agreements can be enforced.

Votes and effective dates: The ordinances and rate changes were adopted and the recycling processing contract awarded. Residential base rate totals remain unchanged at the board‑approved level beginning when the new franchise agreements take effect in October; several new single‑item fees (listed above) will take effect with the franchise start date. The landfill fee schedule updates were adopted and indexing begins as noted in the resolutions.

Ending: County staff promised continuing outreach and quarterly reporting on the new solid‑waste program’s performance, missed collections, and any liquidated‑damages assessed to haulers. Utilities said it will provide a 30‑day report after the October rollout summarizing missed pickups, liquidated damage claims and initial processor throughput.