Augusta, GA
Augusta commissioners consider forgiving $70,000 in trash contractor fines
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta commissioners are being asked to forgive more than $70,000 in fines against the city’s trash contractor, Coastal Waste and Recycling, following missed pickups, cart problems and complaints.
Coastal took over all three of Augusta’s trash collection zones last year. Both the city and the company blamed early problems on the transition.
The city assessed about $144,000 in fines during the first three months. Commissioners are now recommending the city waive more than $70,000 of those penalties from the first month of the contract.
“They went from, you know, one month having like 40 some odd thousand in charges to now I think they’re averaging about 500 some in charges per month and those charges of course are based on if there’s a missed pickup or, or different things like that,” said Don Clark, District 5 commissioner.
Some commissioners pushed back on forgiving the fines, while others said the city shared blame for the rocky start.
The recommendation now moves to the full commission for a final vote next week.
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