Cape Coral debating release of $1.6 million in payments back to Waste Pro

Barbara Anderson is happy to have a clear view of her street again.

Back in March, it was everything but.

Furniture lined the road.

Waste Pro USA hadn’t picked up her trash or her neighbors’ in weeks.

“It was three weeks one time and I’ve had maggots and it’s just like ‘Agh,'” Anderson said.

Complaints from neighbors pushed the City of Cape Coral to take action and withhold $1.6 million dollars worth of payments made to the company.

The city stopped withholding payments in June after complaints decreased. Now it is debating whether it’s time to release the funds back to the company.

Jose Torna isn’t yet convinced the trash woes are over.

“It’s been mixed. The regular garbage pickup has been OK but we’re having still an issue in regards to furniture and glass,” Torna said. “The other night I was walking my puppy and there was glass in the street so I had to pick her up.”

Staff is recommending the city not only release retained funds back to Waste Pro but also want Waste Pro to pay the city over $680,000 for costs relating to the city’s efforts in horticultural waste pickup, additional franchise fees, customer service issues and hauling costs for its bulk waste transfer station.

“Personally, I think they are to give it back to the people,” Anderson said. “I think they ought to give them a months’ worth of their garbage pickup because we can’t deduct it.”

The city plans to give an update on Waste Pro’s performance at their Committee of the Whole meeting on Wednesday.

Waste Pro told WINK News it is in negotiations with the city and is working with it to provide a resolution.