Trash, recycling collection rates will increase for Longboat residents

Town commissioners voted unanimously on April 1 to approve an extension of the town’s contract with Waste Management.

The new contract will be effective for another three years and comes with a 28% increase in residential rates. Residential rates will increase from $17.56 to $22.60, which is $5.04 more. Commercial collection rates for multifamily commercial units will also face about a 28% increase. 

The contract and rate increases were first presented at the Feb. 20 workshop by Director of Public Works Isaac Brownman. 

Brownman said at that meeting that the rate increase was mainly due to increased labor and maintenance costs. 

His presentation noted that direct labor costs rose about 26% since 2021, which includes things like hiring costs, sign-on incentives and wage increases. 

Maintenance on trucks was also a factor in the rate increase. 

The Feb. 20 presentation showed that the cost to replace a tire increased 124% since 2020, from $811.11 to $1,008.81 according to Waste Management. 

The cost to replace one set of brakes on one axle has increased 185% since 2020, from $697.83 to $1,291.64. 

Sarasota County also faced similar rate increases, with an average increase of about 24%. 

The base term of the town’s contract with Waste Management began on July 1, 2014, and went through June 30, 2021. That base contract came with two optional, three-year renewals. This latest renewal will be the last of those. 

This approved three-year extension will be effective until June 30, 2027. 

“We are very satisfied with the service and the contract,” Brownman said. “Waste Management provides very consistent quality and reliable service and they really resource our area very well.” 

Waste Management collects trash on Mondays and Thursdays, recycling on Mondays and yard waste on Wednesdays per this service contract.

Brownman added that one concern residents raised with the service was with the customer service call center. He said at the April 1 meeting that Waste Management is working on that issue and the company is looking to move to a more centralized call center service. 

Commissioners voted 7-0 in favor of approving the contract extension.