BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Monitor Editor
GREEN COVE SPRINGS— A manager for Clay County’s waste hauler said his company is now paying new hires wages that approach $100,000 a year.
Marcel Dalby, area general manager for Waste Management, told Clay County commissioners his company increased wages by 21% in the spring of 2021, by 15.5% in February of 2022 and by an additional 20% in April.
“Our current starting rate for a new hire is $24 an hour,” he said. “At a 65-hour work week, that’s $97,000 a year.”
Dalby said that in spite of raising starting pay from $16 an hour last year to $24 now, the company is still struggling with retaining workers. He said that since August of 2021 Waste Management has hired 21 workers for Clay County and has lost 17.
“It is difficult out there on the trucks,” Dalby told commissioners. “As we head into the summer season, we do struggle with heat exhaustion. It’s tough and physical work that they do every day.”
Dalby updated commissioners on his company’s labor status as part of his presentation on how the county should proceed with recycling.
Last year commissioners suspended curbside recycling to allocate more workers to yard waste pickup.
During their May 24 meeting, commissioners delayed the decision on whether to bring back curbside pickup for recycling or not.
Commissioner Betsy Condon said the company is not yet consistent with regular garbage pickups.
She said that after one commission workshop, she arrived home late to find that none of the garbage on her street had been picked up. She added it was picked up a day late.
“I still have residents who are not getting consistent household garbage pickup,” she said. “I know y’all are still having to train these people. They still don’t understand the routes.”
