The city of Port St. Lucie has reached a $24 million settlement with its former trash collector.A trial was scheduled to begin Monday in St. Lucie County civil court.In 2021, the city sued Waste Pro, claiming the company failed to provide services, leaving some neighbors with piles of trash for months.Waste Pro blamed this issue on staffing shortages due to the pandemic, starting in 2020.Port St. Lucie City Council, in a special meeting on Friday that lasted less than four minutes, approved the settlement.The city will receive $21 million due in the next 30 days, $1.5 million on Jan. 31, 2027 and a $1.5 million installment on Jan. 31, 2028.Both sides agreed to release each other from all outstanding claims and formally dismiss the case.“This settlement will bring closure to a challenging time for the City,” Mayor Shannon M. Martin said in a city news release. “Closing this chapter will allow us to move forward and better serve our residents.Council and staff will review options for the appropriate use of the settlement funds at future Council workshops or public meetings.A new waste provider, FCC Environmental Services, began service on Labor Day in 2022.Drivers learned all of the new routes and had to deal with all the trash left behind.The seven-year contract, approved on May 18, 2022, serves around 82,000 households and 1,300 commercial customers.“I’m pretty glad that (Waste Pro is) no longer going to be servicing us, because they’re just not reliable and I’m glad to hear that there is a new company and we have high hopes that they’re going to be consistent,” Michael Diaz told WPBF in 2022.The new company operates in seven states, serving 14 million people, including recycling more than 500,000 in 2024, the company said on its website. Florida alone represents 550,000 households.That includes Service Area 4 of the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County, including portions of Boynton Beach and Wellington. The renewal was approved on Feb. 11 and takes effect on Oct. 1 for seven years.Waste Pro serves West Palm Beach and Fort Pierce.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here. Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. —
The city of Port St. Lucie has reached a $24 million settlement with its former trash collector.
A trial was scheduled to begin Monday in St. Lucie County civil court.
In 2021, the city sued Waste Pro, claiming the company failed to provide services, leaving some neighbors with piles of trash for months.
Waste Pro blamed this issue on staffing shortages due to the pandemic, starting in 2020.
Port St. Lucie City Council, in a special meeting on Friday that lasted less than four minutes, approved the settlement.
The city will receive $21 million due in the next 30 days, $1.5 million on Jan. 31, 2027 and a $1.5 million installment on Jan. 31, 2028.
Both sides agreed to release each other from all outstanding claims and formally dismiss the case.
“This settlement will bring closure to a challenging time for the City,” Mayor Shannon M. Martin said in a city news release. “Closing this chapter will allow us to move forward and better serve our residents.
Council and staff will review options for the appropriate use of the settlement funds at future Council workshops or public meetings.
A new waste provider, FCC Environmental Services, began service on Labor Day in 2022.
FCC Environmental Services
FCC Environmental Services is Port St. Lucie’s current hauler.
Drivers learned all of the new routes and had to deal with all the trash left behind.
The seven-year contract, approved on May 18, 2022, serves around 82,000 households and 1,300 commercial customers.
“I’m pretty glad that (Waste Pro is) no longer going to be servicing us, because they’re just not reliable and I’m glad to hear that there is a new company and we have high hopes that they’re going to be consistent,” Michael Diaz told WPBF in 2022.
The new company operates in seven states, serving 14 million people, including recycling more than 500,000 in 2024, the company said on its website. Florida alone represents 550,000 households.
That includes Service Area 4 of the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County, including portions of Boynton Beach and Wellington. The renewal was approved on Feb. 11 and takes effect on Oct. 1 for seven years.
Waste Pro serves West Palm Beach and Fort Pierce.
Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25
Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News