WINTER PARK, Fla. – When renters at the Branchwood Apartments in Winter Park became sickened by the smell of rotting, fly-infested, bacteria-festering piles of trash in their complex, they called News 6.
"It's humid, all the bacteria because of the humidity is rising, and it's really disgusting," Denisa Garova, a tenant, said. "I have allergies. It's hard to breath, hard to digest."
Three dumpsters throughout the complex on Howell Branch Road overflowed with trash Tuesday morning. Diapers, pizza boxes, Christmas wrapping paper, bottles, bags and egg shells, among many other things, were piled high in the dumpsters and on the grass surrounding them. An orange-colored liquid oozed from one bag.
"I don't know how you can transmit this over the airwaves but it stinks to high heaven," a tenant named Brian said. "I come out my door in the morning and it stinks, absolutely wreaks. It's been a few weeks."
When News 6 asked residents how they live with the smell, one said he keeps his air conditioning on high to combat it.
"Lots of flies, lots of smell," said Eric Jones, another tenant.
News 6 called the number printed on the dumpsters for Progressive Waste Solutions, the hauler contracted by Branchwood to collect the garbage.
A representative said that Branchwood owed $422 and had not paid since Nov.29.
News 6 reporter Erik von Ancken attempted to speak with the property manager in Branchwood's "Welcome Office."
A woman who opened the door to the management office would only say, "Go to the right of way off of our property" before she shut the door.
"Did you guys pay the trash bill?" von Ancken asked. "They say you owe $422? You don't want to tell these folks anything?"
The woman shut the office door and did not respond.
But several hours later on Tuesday a Progressive Waste Solutions garbage truck rolled through Branchwood and emptied all three dumpsters.
"We got 'em. We got the results. The trash is gone now, finally," tenant Amanda Cecil said. "Now we can breathe easy and not have the smell."
The driver of the trash truck told von Ancken that dispatchers had sent the driver to the complex because "the bill was just paid."
Repeated calls to Branchwood's management to confirm that the bill had been paid were not answered.
News 6 contacted Seminole County Code Enforcement and the Seminole County Health Department about the unsanitary conditions.
"Now that we have been made aware of this situation, our environmental health program will send out an inspector to the apartment complex," Mirna Chamorro, public information officer for the Florida Department of Health, Seminole County, said. "The inspector will be looking at the site and speaking with management."
Renters said they are concerned about future trash pickups and if Branchwood management will continue to pay Progressive.
A spokesperson for Seminole County said tenants with concerns can contact their District 1 county commissioner at 407-665-7215.
News 6 will check back to make sure trash pickup continues at Branchwood.