PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — Port St. Lucie leaders are set to take up a familiar question again Tuesday night: should the city move from once-a-week trash pickup to twice-a-week service, and if so, how to pay for it.
The proposal could come with an added cost, and City Council members could decide whether to put the issue before voters in November.
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The discussion follows the city’s settlement with its former trash hauler, Waste Pro, after complaints about service issues. City leaders had previously discussed whether some or all of the $24 million from that settlement could be used to fund a second weekly trash collection day, but council members said that would only be a short-term fix.
Once that money ran out, the city could find itself back where it started — with once-a-week collection and another debate over how to pay for it.
At Tuesday night’s meeting, leaders are expected to discuss other options as they consider whether twice-weekly service makes sense for the city. One issue likely to come up is Port St. Lucie’s rapid growth and whether the current trash service is keeping pace with demand.
The meeting is scheduled to start at 6 p.m., and public comment from residents is expected.