PALM BAY, Fla. — The city of Palm Bay could start repossessing garbage cans on Friday, because thousands of people in the city haven't paid their garbage bills. City officials said they haven't gotten any unpaid bills sent back in protest, so they believe it could be just confusion.
However, WFTV was shown a stack of delinquent homeowners.
Starting Friday, garbage men could not only empty the cans; they may just take them away. Less than five months after rolling out the city's new automated garbage program, it is now considering repossessing thousands of garbage cans.
Ed Rogers said can't believe it.
"You going to repo my garbage can? Take it. I didn't need it in the first place," he told WFTV.
Nearly 3,000 homeowners haven't paid their quarterly bills, which run about $33. City staff said most of those that are delinquent live outside the city's water service area and don't normally receive a bill from Palm Bay and may be confused.
"I think the quarterly customers aren't used to receiving a bill from the city. They used to get them from Waste Management," said Yvonne Martinez of the city of Palm Bay.
The city even used its automated calling system to warn residents about garbage cans being repossessed. The new cans were controversial from the start, in part because pickup was cut from two days a week to one.
In October, homeowners left signs of protest on their curbs and there is still plenty of frustration on the street.
"You're charging me 50 cents less a month and cutting my service in half, where's the bargain? Somebody's making money," resident Eddie Vazquez said.
Vazquez said the city will be in a real mess if 3,000 homes don't have garbage cans.
"You might see a lot of trash on the side of the road. A lot more illegal dumping," he said.
But the city said it can't provide the service for free. Residents that do have their garbage cans taken will have to pay a reinstatement fee and could face code enforcement violations if trash starts to build up on their property.
The city can also put a lien on their house until the bills are paid.