To the Highlands County Board of County Commissioners:

We, the residents, property owners, taxpayers, and members of the Highlands County community, respectfully ask the Board of County Commissioners to review and, where necessary, clarify or amend the County’s solid waste regulations to preserve a property owner’s ability to choose who they hire for privately requested removal services.

We recognize the County’s authority to regulate solid waste collection and its existing franchise agreement for residential and commercial solid waste services in the unincorporated areas of Highlands County.

But there is an important distinction that we believe must be recognized.

Curbside garbage collection is not the same as hiring someone to come onto your private property and help you remove unwanted items.

These services often require entering a home, garage, shed, attic, rental property, or estate; providing physical labor; moving heavy or oversized items; loading them; hauling them away; and ensuring their lawful disposal.

For many residents, this isn’t simply about “trash.”

Seniors, widows and widowers, people with physical limitations, families who live out of town, landlords, and property owners often need someone to physically come onto their property and do work they cannot do themselves.

We believe a resident or property owner should be able to choose and hire a properly licensed and insured service provider to perform that work, subject to reasonable County requirements for lawful transportation and disposal.

An exclusive solid waste collection agreement should not eliminate a property owner’s ability to choose who enters their private property to perform labor and removal services that they personally request and pay for.

We are not asking Highlands County to eliminate its solid waste collection system or regular curbside services.

We are asking the County to recognize the difference between curbside collection and privately contracted on-property removal services—and to protect the property owner’s ability to choose.

By signing this petition, you are asking the Highlands County Board of County Commissioners to review this issue and consider the appropriate amendment, clarification, or regulatory framework necessary to preserve that choice for Highlands County residents and property owners.

If it is your property, your home, and your money, we believe the choice of who you hire to help you should remain yours.