123 replies to this topic

[bishmasterb]

Is there a problem with just using it?????????? Everybody generates recyclables.

I would rather have one large container that I can throw everything in, rather than 2 small containers that I have to sort...and then look at a schedule to see which week it is, and whether or not I can put the blue one out at the curb.

[tgianco]

Is there a problem with just using it?????????? Everybody generates recyclables.

What if I told you his real name was Dr. Evil, and that, after attending Evil Medical School, his goal is to cause gloabl warming and an increase in green house gases through his utter lack of recycling.

Let's try to be considerate of his desire to take over the world.

Edited by tgianco, 04 January 2006 - 09:57 PM.

[Chad Vander Veen]

Geez, you'd think the cans were the ugliest thing around and causing a blight on our neigborhoods.

Thats exactly what they're doing. It probably doesn't ahppen in your hood so you dont see the problem.

[jagayman]

Is there a problem with just using it?????????? Everybody generates recyclables.

Well, except for the newspapers and cardboard boxes, all of my recyclable containers are turned in for cold, hard cash that I've already given the government in the form of redemption fees. If the government stopped charging the container fees, I'd gladly give my containers to the city for handling. For now, however, I can buy dinner for two once every couple of months.

[Kevin_F]

Our front yard is so narrow that the only way to solve the can problem is to pour a slab so we can wheel them around to the back of the house. I don't like looking at them either but until we can get this done which is low on the list before the baby is here, they are going to be at the front of the house.

This is the key issue that I don't see the council understanding at this point. Many houses, including the duplex I live in, were designed around a one trash can system (if you can call it a system). The City's codes allowed houses to be built very close to the sides of the lot, in many cases only leaving a narrow path to the backyard and no space to store cans. Now that the City has adopted three cans, they cannot simply turn around and tell everyone "We don't care that we let the builders build your house with no room for can storage, hide them or else!". Prior to the three cans we have now, I was forced to either store my one can in the driveway or on my front porch. I have no other option as the three foot wide pathway to my backyard slopes toward my neighbor's house by more than ten degrees. Not only that, but were I to store my cans there, I would no longer be able to walk to my back gate.

I sincerely hope that before the City Council adopts such an ordinance requiring that cans are kept out of sight they remember that while the three can system has its drawbacks, including the fact that homeowners and residents are likely to store their cans in plain view, those drawbacks are the ultimate responsibility of the Council for adopting the plan in the first place. If the City decided to build a trash dump right behind your house, it would not be your responsibility to clean up the pollution from that dump. Neither should it be our responsibility to shoulder the cost of mitigating the visual impacts of this problem.

[Chad Vander Veen]

This is the key issue that I don't see the council understanding at this point. Many houses, including the duplex I live in, were designed around a one trash can system (if you can call it a system). The City's codes allowed houses to be built very close to the sides of the lot, in many cases only leaving a narrow path to the backyard and no space to store cans. Now that the City has adopted three cans, they cannot simply turn around and tell everyone "We don't care that we let the builders build your house with no room for can storage, hide them or else!". Prior to the three cans we have now, I was forced to either store my one can in the driveway or on my front porch. I have no other option as the three foot wide pathway to my backyard slopes toward my neighbor's house by more than ten degrees. Not only that, but were I to store my cans there, I would no longer be able to walk to my back gate.

I sincerely hope that before the City Council adopts such an ordinance requiring that cans are kept out of sight they remember that while the three can system has its drawbacks, including the fact that homeowners and residents are likely to store their cans in plain view, those drawbacks are the ultimate responsibility of the Council for adopting the plan in the first place. If the City decided to build a trash dump right behind your house, it would not be your responsibility to clean up the pollution from that dump. Neither should it be our responsibility to shoulder the cost of mitigating the visual impacts of this problem.

You make good points. Your post bolsters my belief that this recycling plan was thrown together so the city could avoid paying state penalties. Very poorly planned, thinks me.

[Kevin_F]

You make good points. Your post bolsters my belief that this recycling plan was thrown together so the city could avoid paying state penalties. Very poorly planned, thinks me.

Sadly, most city ordinances and actions are very poorly planned. You've heard the phrase "Too many cooks spoil the pot?"

[forumreader]

I would rather have one large container that I can throw everything in, rather than 2 small containers that I have to sort...and then look at a schedule to see which week it is, and whether or not I can put the blue one out at the curb.

You can! Just call the City and ask for one large cart. You will, however, pay a few dollars more a month. But if you bring your recyclables in for $, that will probably offset the additional charge.

As we have a brand-new home with a very immature front yard, and a not yet fully-landscaped backyard, we have almost no green waste. We also bring our recycling into a center for $......For the time being, a single large can suits us. Eventually, we will probably have the three cans. We are therefore landscaping the side yard to accommodate them.

The City would probably like everyone to think that the three-can program is mandatory. But you do have choices!....And, by the way, the folks at the City offices were very accommodating with my request. (No scolding.)

[SacKen]

Well, except for the newspapers and cardboard boxes, all of my recyclable containers are turned in for cold, hard cash that I've already given the government in the form of redemption fees. If the government stopped charging the container fees, I'd gladly give my containers to the city for handling. For now, however, I can buy dinner for two once every couple of months.

Where do you take them? Prior to the Blight Proliferation Plan, I took mine up to the place by WalMart. The return was so low that I found it just wasn't worth it anymore. A large yard-sized garbage bag filled with crushed cans returned about $17. Plus, instead of cash they gave me a Food Source (or whatever that store next to WalMart is) voucher that you had to go in and redeem for the cash.

Is there a better place in Folsom?

[folsom500]

Is there a better place in Folsom?

Not far from folsom is Schnitzer Steel at 12000 Folsom Blvd in Rancho phone #985 4810 for the cans and bottles and plastic

Cheers
F500

[bordercolliefan]

The City's codes allowed houses to be built very close to the sides of the lot, in many cases only leaving a narrow path to the backyard and no space to store cans. Now that the City has adopted three cans, they cannot simply turn around and tell everyone "We don't care that we let the builders build your house with no room for can storage, hide them or else!".

Not only that, but were I to store my cans there, I would no longer be able to walk to my back gate.

This is exactly the problem I am having. I have a narrow sidewalk on the side of the house. I cannot install a lattice there without blocking my gate. I do not have a concrete pad large enough to store three cans (or even two) behind the gate. Although I've been putting my green waste can behind the gate (and the other two cans in front of my gate), it's been an epic struggle to wrestle the green can, full of heavy wet leaves, through the gate.

I don't like the look of trash cans everywhere... but I'm not sure what we're expected to do with them. I hope the city doesn't expect us to plunk them in the middle of our backyards or on our back patios... that will add a pleasant ambiance to those summer barbecues...

[jagayman]

Where do you take them? Prior to the Blight Proliferation Plan, I took mine up to the place by WalMart. The return was so low that I found it just wasn't worth it anymore. A large yard-sized garbage bag filled with crushed cans returned about $17. Plus, instead of cash they gave me a Food Source (or whatever that store next to WalMart is) voucher that you had to go in and redeem for the cash.

Is there a better place in Folsom?

That's where I go, simply because they are across the street from my neighborhood. Also, they do seem to run out of cash frequently -- except when I am there.

My dinner for two doesn't cost $100 at Fat's so the $17 buys a Rice Express or Rubio's dinner for two

Jason

[DavidH]

I would rather have one large container that I can throw everything in, rather than 2 small containers that I have to sort...and then look at a schedule to see which week it is, and whether or not I can put the blue one out at the curb.

Me too; I'd like it if the city would come inside and empty my trash. Why should I have to put it in a can and wheel it to the curb? Why not just throw it out our front doors and let them scoop it up???

In fact, there are a lot of things we'd all like but perhaps one of the responsibilities of living in a crowded society is to work together and assume the burden of an additional garbage can and recycle everything you can. I manage (and am amazed) to fill my 60 gallon blue can up every two weeks with newspaper, cereal boxes, wine bottles, junk mail, etc. I don't drink soda/beer and consequently don't have any CRV recyclables; nothing that goes in my can would bring me extra $$$ anway and would end up in the landfill if dumped in the gray (general trash) receptacle.

[bishmasterb]

Me too; I'd like it if the city would come inside and empty my trash. Why should I have to put it in a can and wheel it to the curb? Why not just throw it out our front doors and let them scoop it up???

In fact, there are a lot of things we'd all like but perhaps one of the responsibilities of living in a crowded society is to work together and assume the burden of an additional garbage can and recycle everything you can. I manage (and am amazed) to fill my 60 gallon blue can up every two weeks with newspaper, cereal boxes, wine bottles, junk mail, etc. I don't drink soda/beer and consequently don't have any CRV recyclables; nothing that goes in my can would bring me extra $$$ anway and would end up in the landfill if dumped in the gray (general trash) receptacle.

I'm not asking that anyone do anything for me. Just that I be allowed to deal with my own trash. That's all. The ironic part of your statement is that you DO apparently advocate a system of peronsal IRRESPONSIBILITY. Your position implies that people are somehow unable to deal with their trash on their own, so someone must do it for them.

How about this:

Just optionally let people out of the coercive, city-run monopoly. Let them choose whoever they want to come pick up their trash?

No, not freedom! That can't actually be the answer! We'd have dogs and cats...living together. It would be mass hysteria if we let people contract with a refuse company to have their trash collected.

[jagayman]

Bish, you make a good point. I wonder if a private firm could pick up the garbage at a consistent time of day that was after 7am.

I wonder if I could have my sewer handled by a private company for less -- "Hey honey, we got another postcard from SewerMasters. They are offering referral bonuses. For each referral, they'll take your crap for two months free. It also says that this week is their annual 'flush anything week' so we can finally get rid of that three-month-old oil from your turkey fry and the used motor oil from last week."