The Marion County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved on Nov. 4 a commercial and residential solid-waste collection franchise for Waste Connections of Florida and approved a related transfer of the long-time local franchise from Florida Express Environmental to Waste Connections.

Mark Johnson, director of Solid Waste, described Waste Connections as a national hauler founded in 1997 with operations in multiple Florida counties; the company told the board it planned to secure local accounts and initially operate out of a Lake County facility. Commissioners heard no public opposition during the required public hearing.

County attorney staff explained that the transfer of Florida Express Environmental’s franchise required board approval under county ordinance. The agenda packet corrected a transposed company name in the resolution; both the franchise approval and the transfer passed unanimously. Commissioners publicly thanked the Paglia family for roughly 50 years in local service and wished the handing-off families and the new operations well.

What happens next: Waste Connections will proceed with onboarding under the franchise and coordinate with county solid-waste staff on local operations and any community support activities previously performed by the former franchisee.

Quote: "Waste Connections is...the third largest waste company in North America," Mark Johnson said, describing the firm's planned local engagement.

Provenance: Staff presentation and public hearing followed by unanimous board votes on the franchise and transfer.