You can easily share our petition by copying this link: https://www.change.org/SarasotaTrash

Sarasota County faces an escalating problem of service neglect tied the new trash and recycling vendors, Waste Pro and FCC. Many of us live on tight budgets and fixed incomes, and while our taxes are relentless in their increases, the quality of waste services we receive in return has now nosedived. 

We were never clearly told that extra trash bins cannot be purchased, but must be “leased” for an ongoing annual fee of approximately $100, which we assume will increase each year.

We had fewer limitations on waste pickup services before changing vendors. We were not limited to a single, County-supplied trash can. We are now restricted to just four (4) complimentary bulk pick-up requests (bulk pick-up is now defined as any object(s) that cannot fit into our new trash cans) per year. 

For countless years, Sarasota County thrived on consistent waste collection services from Waste Management. This vendor was, on the whole, reliable and efficient. However, with the introduction of the two new vendors, we're seeing the opposite. 

Trash collection schedules are erratically missed, and in some neighborhoods, regular accumulation has led to sanitation concerns. These issues can spiral quickly into serious consequences for families and businesses who depend on regular services not only for cleanliness but to avert health hazards. 

Beyond the inconvenience and potential health risk, there lies the stark reality that we're paying more for less.

The financial burden on seniors and fixed/low-income residents is inexcusable. Everyone deserves the right to efficient and dependable service for the dollars we contribute to public infrastructures.

We demand accountability. Sarasota County Commissioners must take responsibility for the problems they've created, take immediate action to renegotiate (or terminate for cause) the contracts with Waste Pro and FCC, and potentially re-engage Waste Management.

We expect that all records pertaining to how this vendor selection decision was made will be immediately shared publicly as a step towards repairing trust and transparency, and can only hope that extensive good faith negotiations occurred between Brian Usher, our Solid Waste Commissioner, and our incumbent provider, Waste Management. 

At minimum, we expect to see that all pros and cons of a vendor change — not cost alone — were evaluated with internal decision makers and objective external reviewers before the County decided to engage Waste Pro and FCC. We expect timely, transparent sharing of the full scope of services/limitations Waste Management previously provided, and the full scope of services/limitations the new vendors are contracted to provide.

To help your constituents better understand why the vendor change was necessary, please include a side-by-side comparison of:

1. Any/all services that Waste Management previously provided, along with any service limitations, and;

2. Any/all services Waste Pro and FCC are newly contracted to provide, along with any service limitations.

As our common goal is transparency and ease of access to information for all Sarasota County residents, please itemize each service/limitation line-by-line (including equivalent, apples-to-apples costs/fees). 

Our community deserves a reliable waste management service that accurately reflects the taxes we pay and aligns with our foundational community standards.

We are counting on you — our elected officials — to publically and widely share the information we've requested, and to continue your duty & commitment to place first, above all else, the best interests of your constituents.

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Sign today to ensure our county leaders understand the mistake they’ve made by changing vendors, and the need to fix this now. Email, call and/or send a text message (sample text/email below) to Solid Waste Management County Commissioner, Brian Usher, at busher@scgov.net, 941-861-1532 (office) or 941-726-8352 (Brian's cell) to advocate!

Please also reach out to our other leaders involved in this decision: 

Ron Cutsinger, Vice Chair, District 5, Sarasota County Commission
rcutsinger@scgov.net or 941-587-1035

Jonathan R. Lewis, County Administrator of Sarasota County, rlewis@scgov.net or 941-444-9532

Steve Botelho, Deputy County Administrator and CFO of Sarasota County, sbotelho@scgov.net or 941-861-5111 

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Please share your individual experiences & frustrations with Brian Usher via email and/or in a text message to 941-726-8352 (Brian's cell). If you're pressed for time (like most of us!), feel to simply copy and paste the SAMPLE EMAIL/TEXT language below:

To: busher@scgov.net, sbotelho@scgov.net, rlewis@scgov.net, 
rcutsinger@scgov.net, tmast@scgov.net, mhsmith@scgov.net, tknight@scgov.net, jneunder@scgov.net

Subject: PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW: Reinstate all services formerly provided by Waste Management!

Dear Brian et al,

Sarasota County voters face an escalating problem of service neglect tied the new trash and recycling vendors, Waste Pro and FCC. Many of us live on tight budgets and fixed incomes, and while our taxes are relentless in their increases, the quality of waste services we receive in return has now nosedived. 

We were never clearly told that extra trash bins cannot be purchased, but must be “leased” for an ongoing annual fee of approximately $100, which we assume will increase each year.

We had fewer limitations on waste pickup services before changing vendors. We were not limited to a single, County-supplied trash can. We are now restricted to just four (4) complimentary bulk pick-up requests (bulk pick-up is now defined as any object(s) that cannot fit into our new trash cans) per year.

For countless years, Sarasota County thrived on consistent waste collection services from Waste Management. This vendor was, on the whole, reliable and efficient. However, with the introduction of the two new vendors, we're seeing the opposite. 

Trash collection schedules are erratically missed, and in some neighborhoods, regular accumulation has led to sanitation concerns. These issues can spiral quickly into serious consequences for families and businesses who depend on regular services not only for cleanliness but to avert health hazards. 

Beyond the inconvenience and potential health risk, there lies the stark reality that we're paying more for less. 

The financial burden on seniors and fixed/low-income residents is inexcusable. Everyone deserves the right to efficient and dependable service for the dollars we contribute to public infrastructures.

We demand accountability. Sarasota County Commissioners must take responsibility for the problems they've created, take immediate action to renegotiate (or terminate for cause) the contracts with Waste Pro and FCC, and potentially re-engage Waste Management. 

We expect that all records pertaining to how this vendor selection decision was made will be immediately shared publicly as a step towards repairing trust and transparency, and can only hope that extensive good faith negotiations occurred between Brian Usher, our Solid Waste Commissioner, and our incumbent provider, Waste Management. 

At minimum, we expect to see that all pros and cons of a vendor change — not cost alone — were evaluated with internal decision makers and objective external reviewers before the County decided to engage Waste Pro and FCC. We expect timely, transparent sharing of the full scope of services/limitations Waste Management previously provided, and the full scope of services/limitations the new vendors are contracted to provide.

To help your constituents better understand why the vendor change was necessary, please include a side-by-side comparison of: 

1. Any/all services that Waste Management previously provided, along with any service limitations, and;

2. Any/all services Waste Pro and FCC are newly contracted to provide, along with any service limitations. 

As our common goal is transparency and ease of access to information for all Sarasota County residents, please itemize each service/limitation line-by-line (including equivalent, apples-to-apples costs/fees). 

Our community deserves a reliable waste management service that accurately reflects the taxes we pay, and aligns with our foundational community standards.

I am counting on you — our elected officials — to publically and widely share the information requested, and to continue your duty & commitment to place first, above all else, the best interests of your constituents. 

Regards,
[NAME / BUSINESS NAME] or Anonymous / A Frustrated Voter
https://www.change.org/SarasotaTrash

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May 25, 2025 UPDATE:

1. Only 5 vendors (including incumbent Waste Management, selected new vendor Waste Pro, selected new vendor FCC and 2 other non-selected vendors) submitted responses to Sarasota County's "ITN" (Intent to Negotiate) during a roughly 3-month period in 2023.

2. Instead of extending the bidding window and attempting to solicit more than 5 responses, Sarasota County chose to evaluate only 4 new vendors and the incumbent, Waste Management.

3. Of note, 124 clarifying questions were asked by prospective bidders after they reviewed the ITN. This could potentially be interpreted as a sign of a poorly constructed ITN, and deserves further inspection.

Please read this article that briefly addresses some internal County concerns: https://sarasotanewsleader.com/sticker-shock-expected-when-sarasota-county-staff-gets-bids-for-next-solid-waste-contract