Unbelievable!! In just 2 days, over 100 of you have signed our petition!

Please continue to email/text/post to your social media the link:

https://www.change.org/SarasotaTrash

If you have a few minutes, reach out to Brian Usher, Solid Waste Management Commissioner of Sarasota County at busher@scgov.net or 941-861-1532.

Share your personal experiences, or if you're pressed for time, you can copy our petition language (please see below) into an email, or simply forward the email you're reading to busher@scgov.net

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To: busher@scgov.net

Subject: PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW: Bring back Waste Management!

Dear Brian,

Sarasota County faces an escalating crisis of service neglect tied to the new trash and recycling vendors. 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.

For years, Sarasota County thrived on consistent waste collection services from Waste Management. This vendor was reliable and efficient. However, with the introduction of two new vendors, we see 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 profound consequences for families who depend on regular services not only for cleanliness but to avert health hazards.

Beyond the inconvenience and potential health threats, there lies the stark reality that we're paying a lot more for less. The financial burden on seniors and low-income residents is inexcusable. Everyone deserves the right to efficient and dependable waste collection for the dollars we contribute to public infrastructures.

We demand accountability. Sarasota County officials must recognize the urgency of the situation they've created, take immediate action to terminate the contract with the underperforming vendors, and 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 you 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.

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

Regards,
[NAME] or A Frustrated Voter