| | | | | | | | | TO: | Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee Members |
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| FROM:
| Alina T. Hudak, City Manager
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| | DATE: | February 14, 2024
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| | SUBJECT: | DISCUSSION REGARDING THE USE OF SECURED DUMPSTERS AND TRASH BINS TO PREVENT RUMMAGING AND ITS ASSOCIATED HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS, SANITATION CONCERNS, AND OTHER QUALITY OF LIFE IMPACTS. |
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| | | | | | | | HISTORY:
| At its July 26, 2023 meeting, the City Commission approved a referral to the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee to discuss the use of secured dumpsters and trash bins to prevent rummaging (the practice of entering dumpsters and trash bins in search of salvageable items) and its associated health and safety risks, sanitation concerns and other quality of life impacts.
The referral requested 1.) advice on any available product options for the use of lockable or secured dumpsters and trash bins, which would prevent the harmful rummaging of garbage in the City, 2.) estimated costs for the City to use such products at City-owned facilities, 3.) Have the Administration advise on the feasibility and any associated costs of requiring the City’s waste haulers to use lockable dumpsters as part of the City’s approval of private waste hauler franchises, along with the feasibility and associated costs of requiring secured trash bins |
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| | | | | | | | ANALYSIS
| The current system in place for multifamily (9 units and up,) and commercial solid waste collection are two non-exclusive franchise haulers. The haulers have individual customer contracts that the City is not privy to, and therefore have no control over which dumpsters have locks on them. Each customer's contract has the option for locks, which is at a cost to the customer. The City also has in-kind services provided by the two non-exclusive haulers, and has not found the need to have locks installed at the locations.
There may be specific locations that have rummaging issues, but it does not appear to be a Citywide problem, and the Sanitation Division of the Public Works Department does not receive many calls or complaints regarding this specific issue. However, locks may be helpful where a certain location is having frequent incidences of rummaging. These locations can be addressed individually between the hauler and the customer.
Instituting a Citywide dumpster lock requirement could impact the operations of the haulers, including the amount of time required for trash pickup. Additionally, it may add additional costs to customers who prefer not to have their dumpsters locked. |
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| | | | | | | | CONCLUSION:
It is the Administration's recommendation to have locked dumpster requests be addressed on a case-by-case basis between the haulers and the customers.
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| | | | | | | | Applicable Area
| | South Beach |
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| | | | | | | | | Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, pursuant to City Code Section 2-14? | | Does this item utilize G.O. Bond Funds? | | | Yes | | No | |
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