Indian River County amends Waste Management rollout to let HOAs opt out of yard‑waste carts, accelerates recycling swaps

Indian River County commissioners voted unanimously June 17 to approve staff-led changes to the county's new universal collection rollout with Waste Management, allowing homeowners associations (HOAs) and condominium associations (COAs) to decline delivery of yard‑waste carts and moving up the schedule for residents to request smaller recycling carts.

The changes respond to dozens of public comments at the meeting from residents and HOA representatives who said the new 65‑ and 95‑gallon carts already delivered to neighborhoods do not fit in small garages, create storage and storm‑season concerns, and were sometimes left curbside when homeowners were absent.

Why it matters: The county is replacing its entire cart fleet under a new 10‑year franchise with Waste Management that begins Oct. 1. The rollout involves roughly 200,000 carts and prompted a wave of calls and in‑person complaints after early deliveries. Commissioners and staff said the amendments aim to reduce disruption while preserving the county’s plan for universal collection.

What the amendments do - HOA/COA opt‑out for yard‑waste carts: If an HOA or COA provides a single, signed notice to the Solid Waste Disposal District by July 15 listing all addresses to be excluded, Waste Management will not deliver yard‑waste carts to that development for the initial term of the franchise. The opt‑out must apply to the entire association; individual homes within an HOA cannot be exempted separately. Staff said the exemption will run for the term of the Waste Management agreement and any extensions, preventing piecemeal opt‑outs. - Reallocation and second carts: Waste Management agreed to allow residents (countywide) to request a second yard‑waste cart if HOAs opt out. Residents who request the extra cart will be required to pay a one‑time, prepayment (described by staff as a lump sum to cover delivery) rather than a per‑month fee; the company will waive the delivery charge for those second carts during a transitional window. - Accelerated recycling swap program: Waste Management will begin accepting requests for recycling cart exchanges on Aug. 1, earlier than the company’s original January timeline. Actual physical swap outs will commence in October and be scheduled by route; staff warned residents that August requests will not necessarily be fulfilled in early October if routing and delivery sequencing require a later date.

County and vendor response Sean Leeson, director of utility services, told the board the county and Waste Management have received numerous calls about cart sizes, storage and storm‑season risks. Waste Management’s government‑affairs representative, Deb Perez, described the delivery and reclaim process: crews deliver the new carts and a reclaim crew follows to retrieve old carts; if an old cart remains, residents can call to have it removed. Perez said initial reclaim rates are about 70% with follow‑up pickups increasing that number.

Several residents and HOA leaders described practical problems: limited garage space for 65‑gallon carts, snowbirds who are absent during delivery, and concerns about unsecured carts during hurricane season. Fountainhead Condominium president Christopher Mackey requested that COAs be explicitly included in the opt‑out language; staff confirmed COAs are covered.

Tradeoffs and enforcement Staff cautioned that the non‑ad valorem assessment that pays for county solid‑waste services covers the entire program (landfill, convenience centers, collection contract). Commissioners and staff said the assessment is not modular — the charge funds a system of collection and disposal, not individual cart choices — so opting out of a cart does not eliminate the assessment for a property.

Commissioners asked staff to provide the HOA opt‑out letter template and to post the detailed amendment language on the county website. Waste Management said it will stand up a local customer care center (two staff) by September to handle resident requests and that it has already delivered thousands of new recycling carts countywide.

What’s next The board authorized staff to prepare and return with a formal amendment to the franchise agreement for ratification at a future meeting. Staff said the deadline for HOAs to submit opt‑out requests is July 15 and that residents can begin calling for recycling‑cart swaps on Aug. 1; swaps will be physically performed starting in October.

Ending note: County and Waste Management officials acknowledged the rollout's scale and said they expect more calls and adjustments during the transition. Commissioners repeatedly urged patience but also pressed staff and the vendor to prioritize communication and reclaim efforts so neighborhoods are not left with excess carts during hurricane season.