Starting January 1, 2026, residents in Hernando County, Florida will have to pay $15 every time they want to visit the dump to throw away their trash at the now named “convenience centers” of Osowaw and East Hernando.
This measure was approved by the county commissioners at the December 16 meeting. However, there is more to the new rule; there will be an extra charge of $5 for every five 32-gallon garbage bag, and other rates per ton were updated depending on the materials.
Community members are reacting very strongly to this changes, although changes don’t stop there; the county also announced that “Hernando County will transition to Coastal Waste and Recycling as the new residential trash, recycling, and yard waste collection provider beginning January 2, 2026,” and “This transition is part of the County’s efforts to maintain reliable, efficient solid waste collection for residents.”
$15 fee and surcharges unleash neighborhood criticism
Neighbors criticized the innitiative of paying $15 per visit—some even bursted into tears—pointing out the economic difficulties for many, and arguing that the commissioners don’t understand the needs of their area, during the meeting of December 16.
However, despite the clear opposition from the community, the commissioners approved the rate and even added a $5 surcharge for every five 32-gallon bags to residents who deposit garbage at the sites of Osowaw and East Hernando—now designated “convenience centers”
On social media, the anger didn’t wait to be expressed: “Thank you to our county commissioners for a higher cost garbage bill,” a user commented on Facebook.
However, commissioner Steve Champion defended the measure by comparing it with water and sewerage requirements, arguing that transporting garbage to the landfill has a cost that has be covered.
New prices in Hernando, and transition to Coastal Waste in 2026
The county posted the changes online, showing the new charge “per visit,” but also listing the new adjustments for the different types of waste from January 1, 2026:
- Garden garbage (landscaping maintenance, vegetable waste): $56.27 per ton.
- Personal boats (boats, jet-skis, wave runners): $62.47 per ton.
- Sludge: $62.47 per ton.
- Car tires (car, motorcycle, light van, 16″ or less): $154.88 per ton.
- Semi-trailer truck tires (bigger than 16″): $154.88 per ton.
- Off-road tires (heavy equipment and “racing slicks”): $206.50 per ton.
- RV (travel trailer) without tires: fixed rate $230.00
- RV (travel trailer) with tires: fixed rate $255.00
- “Single-wide” mobile home without tires: fixed rate $400.00
- “Single-wide” mobile home with tires: fixed rate $450.00
- Mobile home “double-wide” without tires: fixed rate $790.00
- “Double-wide” mobile home with tires: fixed rate $825.00
Impact on the community, future plans and comparisons
For residents and households with economic difficulties, the $15 per visit to convenience centers is quite a big change, and it can end up being a huge barrier, just like many neighbors said.
It can become very expensive, very fast, if you are used to going every week; and shortcuts might get pricey with the $5 surcharge for five bags of 32 gallons.
For example, if you go once a week that’s around $60 per month, which makes $760 a year. While subscribing to the your area garbage system or a private collection company, you pay around $18 per month, making it $217.37 annualy.
The change of supplier from January 2, 2026, on the other hand, promises to ensure a reliable and more efficient service for trash, recycling and garden waste.
It sounds a little like the best option is to have your garbage picked up outside your house… Are they trying to push unanimity towards garbage collection? Right now, we just know that the community is facing new rules and costs; that the residents openly expressed their disagreement, and that the county still decided to commit to an operational transition that, according to its announcement, will be the most reliable option.