Sep 9, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
      
Contact:  Brigitte Kantor, Lee County Solid Waste Department
               (239) 338-3302
  
NEW SOLID WASTE FRANCHISE HAULING CONTRACTS TO GO INTO EFFECT OCTOBER 1, 2005 FOR LEE COUNTY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES - PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS FOR RESIDENTS

FORT MYERS, Fla. (September 9, 2005) -  Beginning October 1, 2005, residents of unincorporated Lee County may notice changes and improvements in their garbage collection service.  There will be some basic changes for residents to be aware of:

Four (4) contracted franchise hauling companies will begin providing garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection service in Lee County.  Residents in the City of Bonita Springs, Town of Ft. Myers Beach, Captiva Island, and the Iona/McGregor area will have Onyx Waste Services, Inc. as their service provider.  Waste Services, Inc., who has previously provided service to the South Fort Myers area, was awarded the contract to service that area again.  Lehigh Acres, East Fort Myers, and all of  the Alva area will be serviced by Waste Management, Inc.  The North Fort Myers and Pine Island area will receive service from Waste Pro of Florida, Inc.

The Solid Waste Division solicited bids for the five different franchise areas in December of 2004.  In March of 2005, the Board of County Commissioners awarded the garbage service contracts to the low bidder for each service area.  All service providers are committed to providing the best service to our residents and businesses.
 
Garbage and recycling collection days may change for some residents.  The Solid Waste Division has worked with the new collection companies in trying to keep collection days the same for as many residents as possible, but, inevitably, some collection days will change. 

Each of the five franchise areas in the County will receive 6,000 dual compartment, wheeled containers for recycling.  These are currently proposed for a portion of North Fort Myers, San Carlos Park, Central Lehigh Acres, Central Bonita Springs, and the Iona McGregor corridor. 

Beginning in October the County will provide residential collection of old or non-working electronics.  Residents may place these devices at the curb separately from the household garbage the same day as their household garbage. The driver of the collection vehicle will communicate the location of the devices to office staff that then schedules it for collection.  End of life electronic devices placed out with garbage will be collected the next day. Whenever possible, notification of electronic devices collection should be made by the customer to the franchise hauler 48 hours prior to the collection date.

Look for information in the mail regarding changes in your area.  The hauling contractors and the Solid Waste Division are working to assure a smooth transition and continued quality customer service.

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