TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

County To Consider Rule Changes Today For Trash Haulers

ADVERTISEMENT

By ANTHONY McCARTNEY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 7, 2007

TAMPA - County commissioners have received hundreds of phone calls, e-mail messages and faxes in recent days about proposed changes to a trash-hauling ordinance, and lobbying will ratchet up considerably today, when independent haulers are planning demonstrations outside the County Center at 601 E. Kennedy Blvd.

Commissioners will consider the changes during a 3 p.m. public hearing, opening an overflow room to accommodate an expected large crowd.

Officials want to close loopholes in an ordinance giving three haulers exclusive rights to collect residential, commercial and residential construction debris. A judge has ruled the exclusivity portion of the ordinance is unenforceable.

Opponents argue the changes will force many independent haulers out of business. But if commissioners reject the changes, the franchise haulers say, the county will be in breach of contract.

The proposed changes would allow anyone who self-hauls waste to continue their business, as well as those who haul debris in trailers smaller than 16 cubic yards. Larger companies - except for the three franchise haulers - would be forced to stop collecting debris in Hillsborough.

Reporter Anthony McCartney can be reached at (813) 259-7616.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT