PALM BAY, Fla. — Palm Bay homeowners plan to protest Thursday night, alongside their garbage cans. They are upset about changes in their garbage pickup.
The protesters are planning to be at the city council meeting at 7:00pm with their garbage cans. They are upset about the contract the city passed with waste management and even created a website calling attention to their fight.
One resident has put their city-purchased garbage can out at the curb with a sign that reads, "I don't want your $3.1 million garbage can."
The city recently started distributing the garbage cans as it switches over to the automated system. The new system will actually save the average resident about .45 cents a month in garbage fees.
But protesters WFTV talked to over the phone said they are upset because the city is going to one day of pick-up. In neighboring Melbourne's deal with waste management, Melbourne has bigger cans, pay a little bit less and still has two pick-up days.
WFTV asked Palm Bay's city manager, Lee Feldman, about that.
"Melbourne's case they actually have a transfer station inside their city so that they are able to have lower transportation costs and that gives them a slightly lower rate than us," said Feldman.
The 10-year deal with waste management has been signed for months. The people planning to protest are doing this now because the garbage cans are being distributed now and because there is an election coming up.
WFTV
