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Cocoa council approves first reading of amended solid-waste franchise with Waste Management
Summary
On Sept. 9, the Cocoa City Council approved on first reading Ordinance O9-2025, an amended and restated solid-waste franchise with Waste Management of Florida Inc.; council and company leaders acknowledged service problems and said white goods and bulky items will be flagged and collected within 48 hours.
The Cocoa City Council on Sept. 9 approved on first reading Ordinance O9-2025, an amended and restated solid-waste franchise agreement with Waste Management of Florida Inc. that sets service charges, ties annual increases to a consumer-price index for garbage, and extends the contract term to Sept. 30, 2030.
City staff read the ordinance into the record and clarified how the franchise distinguishes "bulk trash" from recyclable "white goods" such as refrigerators and washing machines. "Those are handled by a different truck," said Miss Sanger, a city staff member, who said Waste Management will flag white goods the company cannot pick up on the initial run and return within 48 hours to remove them.
Jordan Chandler, government affairs manager for Waste Management, told the council the franchise includes a local phone number but that calls currently route to a regional customer-service center that can transfer callers to Florida-based staff. "We are meeting that particular requirement as outlined in the franchise agreement," Chandler said, adding WM is training drivers and working to reduce missed pickups. He said flagged white goods will be labeled and collected no later than 48 hours after the initial service attempt.
During public comment, resident Chris Iorio of 109 Riverside Drive described repeated missed pickups and a broken yard-waste can that had not been replaced. "In less than six weeks, I've had five missed pickups and a broken can," Iorio said, asking the council to consider remedies including extra cans or refunds.
After staff and company remarks, Mayor Marcie Blake moved to approve the ordinance on first reading; Deputy Mayor Weeks seconded. The council voted unanimously to advance Ordinance O9-2025 on first reading.
Next steps: The ordinance passed its first reading; council will follow its normal legislative schedule for any subsequent readings or final adoption. The City said it will publish additional customer-education materials and FAQs to explain bulk-trash and white-goods collection procedures.
