Voting Question: Is it legal to not offer an opt-out option?

28/06/10

I live in an apartment community in Georgia. At one point these were considered “luxury” apartments, but all luxury has been lost in the past few months with the new leasing manager. We have a trash compactor directly located next to the exit, with a nice little area to pull your car up, take your trash out, and be on your way. Yesterday, I come home only to see a disgustingly ugly black trash can placed by every door. Apparently, we now have a mandatory valet waste service. Residents were not notified that this option was being considered. Also, there is a mandatory $17 per month charge, no matter whether we use the service or not, and there is no option to opt-out of the service. Is this legal?
Our current trash compactor will be left in place. The valet waste service will be emptying into the same compactor that is currently used by residents. As per my lease:

Utilities: Resident is responsible for payment of all natural gas, electricity, water and sewer, telephone, cable, satellite or other utilities and services to the apartment unless otherwise specified in Paragraph 34 (nothing stated) or in a utility addendum (nothing relevant) which is made part of this lease. Resident gives management the right to select any utility provider and change the same without notice.

My claim, is that this is not a “change”, but an “addition” to the same utility. In addition, the same waste removal service that has been in place for quite some time, will continue to empty the compactor. Residents are not required to use the valet waste service, but will be charged regardless. We still have the option to empty their garbage at the compactor, but will be charged extra for valet. Am I right?
Forgot to add, currently (the valet service does not start for another 2 weeks), residents are NOT charged for trash service. Note, the same exact service will still be in place, the valet is in addition to, yet it is mandatory for residents to pay for the valet service regardless of whether it is used.

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