FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — Tensions are rising in Fort Pierce over controversial trash trains bringing waste from Miami through the city — and now, leaders are signaling they may take action.
During the city commission meeting on March 16th, frustration boiled over as commissioners openly criticized Waste Management and the Florida East Coast Railway, accusing them of putting profits over the well-being of residents.
“I will not approve one penny of expenditure to Waste Management,” Commissioner Michael Broderick said. “I’m unwilling to spend a dime while they’re subjecting citizens of the city of Fort Pierce to their uncovered, smelly trash trains.”
Broderick described the situation as “infuriating,” claiming the trains — carrying waste from Miami-Dade — are creating ongoing problems, including odor and quality-of-life concerns for nearby neighborhoods.
Other commissioners echoed those concerns, questioning whether the city should continue doing business with the company long-term.
“I have serious issues as well,” Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky said, pointing to the possibility of a 25-year agreement. “You get locked in and now you have no place to go.”
Trash trains at the center of controversy
The trains transport garbage from South Florida through Fort Pierce before it is ultimately taken to a landfill outside the area.
City leaders say the issue isn’t just about logistics — it’s about impact.
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“They haven’t been good neighbors,” commissioner Dzadovsky said during the meeting, adding that both residents and even federal officials have raised concerns without resolution.
The debate comes after months of complaints from residents about smells, flies, and trains sitting in the area.
City weighing its options
While commissioners voiced strong opposition, city staff emphasized the city is still under an existing contract that runs through early 2027.
For now, leaders approved funding to continue waste services — warning that without it, trash collection across the city could be disrupted.
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“If we don’t vote for this, we’re going to have a whole bunch of streets full of trash,” one official said.
However, the conversation is far from over.
City leaders say they are now preparing to explore other options, including putting the contract out for bid and potentially ending their relationship with Waste Management in the future.
What’s next
CBS12 News is covering this developing story in Fort Pierce, where leaders are expected to continue discussions on how to handle the ongoing trash train controversy — and whether to cut ties with the companies involved.