PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — There is a lot of trash talk on the Treasure Coast regarding a new plan to help make Port St. Lucie cleaner.
Waste Pro has been serving Port Saint Lucie for the more than a decade, but a new contract with the city is creating a stink with some residents like Ram Ramlall, who's lived here for 25 years.
“It’s not fair, we’re paying extra to pick up our trash so why the restriction? Ramlall said.
The waste company says the new system will mean a neon-colored notice will be tied to your garbage can, and your trash could be left behind if you don’t follow a list of guidelines.
“It helps keep the city cleaner, and at the end of the day it’s great communication for the residents,” said Orville Perez, operations manager at Ware Pro’s Fort Pierce division.
Some of the criteria:
- cans and bags need to be under 50 pounds
- branches can only be four feet long and stacked in neat piles
- loose debris needs to be inside a container
- yard waste, garbage, and recyclables need to be separated
- logs too big/too heavy: must be under 50 pounds
“It pretty much describes everything, the reason why it wasn’t collected, when we will be back or what needs to be done to be collected,” Perez said.
“I think it’s too much restriction we have here in Port Saint Lucie, we pay our taxes and there shouldn’t be so much restriction,” Ramlall said.
Karen Corayer’s HOA already has strict rules when it comes to trash, so she says she can understand both sides.
“If they’re going to change the way garbage is picked up, you’re just gonna have to deal with it because you gotta have your garbage picked up,” Corayer said.
Waste Pro adds if your pile is too big, the notice will let you know when a clam truck will be out within 72 hours after trash day to pick it up.