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Board of Commissioners SWDD Meeting Minutes - Final December 9, 2025 <br />yard waste cart was required for all curbside residents in Unincorporated Indian <br />River County. Now, fewer than 50 communities with about 5,000 residents were <br />exempt for 5 years, with WM waiving the $100 fee for additional carts for the <br />first 5,000 customers outside of those communities who request one. 2. <br />Standardized Carts and Cart Swaps: Starting October 1, 2025, residents would <br />be able to swap standardized recycling and trash carts sooner than planned, and <br />yard waste service would decrease from 4 to 1 cubic yard per week. 3. <br />Supplemental Fees: To address confusion and rising costs for multi -family and <br />commercial customers, WM eliminated the recycling cart roll-out fee, lowered <br />specific fees to a monthly rate, and required customer approval for supplemental <br />fees. <br />A discussion ensued between the Board and Mr. Mehta regarding the notable <br />93% increase in Commercial Waste Management rates, which took effect on <br />October 1, 2025. This decision was attributed to a competitive bidding process. <br />Mr. Mehta highlighted that previous rate increases had been controlled, influenced <br />by the Consumer Price Index and the COVID-19 pandemic. This resulted in <br />higher bids from various companies compared to the rates established in the <br />previous ten-year contract. <br />Vice Chairman Moss asked about the potential for rate decreases. County <br />Administrator Titkanich responded and clarified that, while the rates remained set, <br />supplemental fees had varied. He emphasized that the commercial rates remained <br />competitive relative to neighboring counties and noted that the increase was a <br />necessary adjustment following a decade of low rates. <br />Administrator Titkanich inquired whether WM would waive the $100 fee for <br />distributing approximately 5,000 carts. Mr. Mehta clarified that, while 5,000 yard <br />waste carts had been reserved, they remained undelivered due to specific <br />communities had received an exemption. The collection of this fee was still <br />necessary as part of the non -ad valorem assessment program, which involved <br />collecting the assessment through residents' tax bills. Under the Franchise <br />Agreement, WM was obligated to be prepared to provide service to the <br />community each day, even though the community had opted out of yard waste <br />service. This scenario mirrored previous franchise agreements in which <br />communities had used their own yard waste companies and paid service charges <br />directly to WM. Those communities had opted not to allow WM to collect yard <br />waste, preferring to hire their own landscapers. Additionally, WM agreed that <br />during the one-year period, if another 5,000 residents outside the exempt <br />communities required a second yard waste cart, the current $100 delivery fee <br />would be waived. However, residents would need to agree to an extra $10 <br />Indian River County, Florida Page 3 <br />