By Kevin Deutsch
Margate has contracted with a new provider to handle garbage collection and recycling in the city, records show.
Republic Services of Florida took over Margate’s solid waste services in February, including residential and commercial garbage removal, recycling, and bulk pickup for the city’s more than 58,000 residents.
The Margate City Commission awarded its exclusive franchise contract for waste handling to Republic in August 2021. The provider replaced Waste Management, the former contract-holder, as the city’s exclusive franchise hauler, according to city records.
According to complaints made by a number of Margate residents, the transition has been bumpy.
Since February, gripes regarding unretrieved garbage, posted in various Margate Facebook groups, have piled up.
“Just had my garbage picked up on SW 1st and 75th Terrace. It’s 6:41 p.m.,” Margate resident Wanda Hernandez wrote on February 14. “And they dumped all the garbage from the container on the ground and kept going! My husband had to go out and clean up, and now our garbage can is full again until Thursday! This is the new company?!”
Many complaints have been personally answered by Margate Mayor Antonio Arserio, who writes to residents individually on Facebook with promises to help.
“Please send me an email to aarserio@margatefl.com and include address,” the mayor wrote in response to a resident’s March 30 complaint about Republic’s delay in retrieving trash from outside a residence. “I’ll make sure it’s picked up.”
Some residents have also seen changes to their collection days. Anyone with questions about their trash service in Margate should contact Republic’s customer service line at 954-583-1830 (Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.) or use its online customer support site at republicservices.com/customer-support, Margate officials said.
The city has also encouraged residents to review its agreement with Republic and check their new rates for garbage collection.
Residential curbside garbage is scheduled to be collected twice a week, including holidays, except Christmas.
Republic did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
Got News? Send it to Margate Talk.