Garbage pickup in Bradenton is, well, garbage

Garbage pickup is GARBAGE.

I just received my utility bill from the City of Bradenton. It includes monthly charges for residential garbage and dump fees totaling $16.96. We are two elderly citizens who dispose of a half-can of garbage once a week. Irma trash was picked up a while ago, but my normal ongoing yard waste has not been collected since after the storm. I do a lot of yard work as I am retired. I put yard waste out at the curb as I have always done, and the pile is now bigger than the Irma trash pile. It attracts vermin, snakes and insects. It also is unsightly and has destroyed my carefully tended lawn.

Why am I paying this service charge if I am not getting the service it represents? If the city can’t provide the required collection services, it should not be getting paid for it.

This waste is not from the storm. This is usual and customary garbage and yard waste in a small city on a small residential street. I called Sanitation and was told basically that they will get around to it and I should be aware the mayor’s yard waste is not being picked up either. I guess that’s supposed to make me feel better! If I were Mayor Poston, I would be looking for answers from the department head.

The city was obviously unprepared even after telling us for weeks to be prepared for the storm. Why am I paying for garbage pickup?

This story was originally published October 25, 2017 at 1:07 PM with the headline "Garbage pickup in Bradenton is, well, garbage."