City of Cape Coral is asking for legal intervention for trash pileup issues

Reporter: Michelle Alvarez Writer: Drew Hill
Published: Updated:
waste pro bulk waste pileup
waste pro bulk waste pileup Credit: WINK News

A Southwest Florida city is asking for legal guidance for its lingering trash problems.

For months, WINK News has shown trash and bulk items that have been left in front of homes in Cape Coral after delaying Waste Pro pickups.

Now the city could be seeking legal guidance. A law firm sent the city a letter confirming a legal services agreement regarding its trash company Waste Pro.

Frustration is building as the people and politicians in Cape Coral are tired of trash lining the curb for weeks on end. For the last several months, neighbors in Cape have complained about rugs, couches, chairs and even a door that has been left along the side of the road.

One homeowner got so frustrated with the pileup that he parked his SUV in the middle of the street so the Waste Pro truck couldn’t get out.

“This is what I had to go through. Finally, they came out and picked it up, but this is what I have to go to in order to get my garbage that I pay for picked up,” said O’Brien.

Couple blockades Waste Pro truck after weeks of waste pickup frustrations

John O’Brien said he blames the City of Cape Coral for hiring Waste Pro, which he believes isn’t up for the job.

Cape Coral City Councilman Dan Sheppard said he once questioned a drive about why they don’t haul every piece of trash away. “I would walk over and talk to them and say, ‘why’d you skip them six houses?’ And I’ve had all kinds of answers in the past year. I’ve had you know, ‘I want to go home,'” said Sheppard. “I want to get the route done. If I skip a bunch of houses, the route’s done faster.”

Like many other companies, waste Pro says that it is struggling not only to hire employees but to keep them.

But, Cape Coral Mayor John Gunther is on record saying that answer is not good enough. “Not having a plan for the short term is unacceptable. I think we need to look, see if there is other vendors out there,” said Mayor Gunther.

Cape Coral City Council is supposed to talk about formally hiring the law firm on Wednesday. Will those lawyers sue Waste Pro or steel to break the city’s contract? No one from the city would speak to WINK News about those possibilities for now.

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