Waste Pro may become sole collections provider for Florida county

The Pensacola News Journal reports Waste Pro, Longwood, Florida, could soon be the sole provider for all waste hauling services in Santa Rosa County, Florida.

After a decade of upheavals with Santa Rosa’s previous waste services provider, Emerald Coast Utility Authority (ECUA), Pensacola, Florida, ECUA told the county in April it had decided not to renew its one-year contract for trash pickup in the north end of the county, which ends Dec. 31.

The county says it was not provided a reason by ECUA for why it is opting to discontinue service. ECUA currently has an inter-local agreement to provide twice-a-week solid waste and recycling collection services to the north end of Santa Rosa County through the end of the year.

According to the article, in an April 2 letter, ECUA Deputy Executive Director Randy Rudd informed Santa Rosa County Administrator Dan Schebler that "the ECUA intends to allow the agreement to end at the end of the current term and discontinue service in Santa Rosa County at that time."

County Commissioners are now negotiating with Waste Pro, which has a contract for waste hauling services in the south end of the county, to take over trash pickup in the north end as well.

County staff will work over the next couple of weeks to re-work procurement processes and negotiate contracts with Waste Pro. The company would have to make a significant capital investment in the county if it doubles its customer base, including purchasing new trucks and hiring new staff.

County Commissioners said the company has turned things around in the past year. Waste Pro Division Manager Rick Chancey said he believed, after speaking with his corporate bosses, the company would be willing to negotiate with the county.

“I think we can do, it we’re happy to do it,” he said.