VIDEO: City of Cocoa Changes Procedure for Bulk Yard Waste Collection Starting Oct. 1

Yard waste should not be mixed with fences or bagged

ABOVE VIDEO: Some City of Cocoa residential customers will see new service dates beginning October 1, 2021. The City of Cocoa provides solid waste services through a franchise agreement with Waste Management of Florida, Inc. that began in 2006 and expires September 30, 2021.

BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA – Some City of Cocoa residential customers will see new service dates beginning October 1, 2021. The City of Cocoa provides solid waste services through a franchise agreement with Waste Management of Florida, Inc. that began in 2006 and expires September 30, 2021.

With the existing agreement expiring,  City staff began researching whether to initiate a request for proposals (RFP) process or enter contract negotiations with Waste Management.

During this process, staff analyzed the cost to bring portions of the solid waste services in-house as well as assessing the cost of new waste contracts in neighboring communities.

As a result, staff discovered that newly established agreements through an RFP process in other communities were resulting in significantly higher costs to residents than a contract negotiation process with Waste Management. Bringing services in-house or taking them over would result in higher services rates increases.

Type your address into the City of Cocoa’s interactive service date map to see the service dates for your residence. Multi-family and commercial units are not included in this map.

At the City Council Meeting on February 9, 2021, City Council directed staff to continue negotiations with Waste Management for a new solid waste agreement while also formulating an RFP.

At the City Council Meeting on February 23, 2021, City Council directed staff to proceed with agreement negotiations with Waste Management only based on the findings staff presented.

The new solid waste agreement will be submitted to City Council for the first reading on August 24, 2021, and the second reading at the regular City Council meeting on September 14, 2021. If approved by City Council at these meetings, the new rates, and new schedules will go into effect on October 1, 2021.

Negotiations and Proposed Rates

The proposed final rates for residential customers that will go into effect as of October 1, 2021, will be $20.25 per month, an increase of $3.46 per month.

While this rate was originally higher, through successful negotiations the City was able to secure one of the lowest percentage increases in the area for new contracts.

With the proposed new agreement, commercial dumpster rates will see an increase of $7.28 per month and commercial can rates will see an increase of $10.67 per month.

While these rate increases are higher than the residential, the rates are very competitive with surrounding jurisdictions. The contract is a seven-year base term, with future renewals to be negotiated by both parties.

Monthly Rate Sheet (As of October 1, 2021)

Customer Type	Current	Proposed	Cost Increase
Residential	$16.79	$20.25	$3.46
Commercial Can	$32.45	$43.12	$10.67
Dumpster (per CY)	$24.60	$31.88	$7.28

*CY rates represent a 2 yd dumpster. Fees vary based on dumpster size.

What Changed?

The new contract is very similar to the existing contract. In an effort to reduce rate increases to the residents, the City elected to add a new residential garbage route that will take place on Wednesday and Saturday. While this will change the service days for some residents across the City, the addition of a new route should result in a better level of service City-wide.

The other substantial change to the contract involves residential bulk yard waste pickups. Previously, residents called Waste Management to request this service.

The new contract requires residential yard waste customers to contact the City of Cocoa Public Works to make this request. City staff will then route this request through Waste Management to schedule a yard waste pick-up. Bulk yard waste piles must be over 3 cubic yards, about the size of a picnic table.

Yard waste should not be mixed with fences or bagged.

Please read the City of Cocoa’s Waste Collection FAQs if you have any unanswered questions.

Bulk Residential Yard Waste Pick-up

Small, loose yard waste can be placed inside your yard waste container and put out on your curb on your regularly scheduled yard waste pick-up date.

If your yard waste does not fit inside your provided yard waste container and is over 3 cubic yards or approximately the size of a picnic table, residents MUST contact the City of Cocoa Public Works to request pick-up by calling (321) 433-8770 or sending an email to yardwaste@cocoafl.org. 

City staff will then route this request through Waste Management to schedule a yard waste pick-up within 10 business days from the day the request was received. Yard waste should not be mixed with fences or bagged.

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