JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Residents at West Creek Apartments on 103rd Street are still struggling with a trash crisis that began last year, after property owners stopped paying their waste management provider, leaving tenants without service for months.
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Despite some cleanup efforts, questions remain about the inconsistency of service and why tenants are still being charged for trash pickup.
Last October, the City of Jacksonville intervened, sending cleanup crews to address the overflowing dumpsters and hazardous conditions that residents had been enduring.
However, residents are still asking why they are being charged $12 a month for trash service that has not been consistently provided.
“We’re asking for compensation or maybe a deduction on the rent,” said resident Derek Llanow.
Another resident, David Morphew, voiced similar frustration: “Every time we asked them about that, they say they are switching management. Nothing they can do about it.”
Despite attempts to reach the apartment management for comment, our calls regarding reimbursement for the unfulfilled trash service went unanswered.
Multiple residents have filed complaints with City Code Enforcement. The complex was cited for violations back in October, but it wasn’t until January 3rd that the property complied with cleanup orders.
According to Jacksonville City Councilman Rahman Johnson, the issue began when the previous owner sold the complex to People Choice Apartments. “That company wasn’t notified that there were arrears, and so they didn’t know what they had to do,” Johnson explained.
To prevent similar issues in the future, Councilman Johnson is proposing two key solutions.
First, he is pushing for a system that will alert City waste management whenever a property changes hands, ensuring trash service continues smoothly.
Second, he is working on legislation to establish a fund that would allow the city to step in, cover trash costs, and fine the apartment complex in the event of future service interruptions.
The new owners of West Creek Apartments have partnered with GFL Environmental, a waste hauling company, but residents report ongoing issues with inconsistent pickups.
“We haven’t had them long enough to know, but at least they’re picking it up,” Llanow added.
In addition to trash service issues, tenants are dealing with delayed maintenance requests that can take over a month to resolve. As one tenant put it, “All we’re asking for is the service we’re paying for.”
The ongoing frustration over trash and maintenance issues has left many residents wondering when they will finally get the reliable service they are paying for.
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