OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Osceola County Commissioners say so many people are moving to the area that they’re struggling to keep up with trash collection.
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County leaders took the first steps Monday towards solving the problem.
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County leaders say they’re issuing occupancy certificates for close to 320 new homes each month. That doesn’t include new homes being built within the cities of Kissimmee and St. Cloud.
The growth has meant challenges for Osceola County’s waste transfer stations where garbage from around the county gets collected before it’s shipped off to a landfill.
According to records, transfer stations for the contracted trash hauler reached daily capacity limits during the first half of 2022, resulting in hauler trucks being turned away from the station. That can then lead to interruptions and delays in residential curbside waste collection.
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Now, county commissioners are working to get ahead of the problem.
At their regular meeting Monday afternoon, Commissioners voted to hire a consultant to evaluate how trash is collected and what needs to be done to meet Osceola County’s growing trash needs.
“We’re going to go ahead and start planning on where other future sites and facilities might be in our county,” Commission Chairman Brandon Arrington said.
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The county will pay just over $100,000 for an outside group to conduct the feasibility study.
Commissioners say they’ll likely get recommendations on what needs to happen next in eight to 10 months.
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