4 replies to this topic

[kanda]

This may be more details than many people want to know about our trash collection service. But if you can make your way through it, I hope you will learn something.

In January of this year, the city council approved a large increase in our solid waste collection fees (among other fee increases). According to the fee study produced (as far as I can tell from reading it), much of this increase and the increases proposed for the next 5 years, go to paying off over $1.7 million in "loans" made from the general fund, and from the water fund. Apparently, solid waste collection has been operating in the red for some time now. Most of the rest of the increases are earmarked for leasing new trucks, purchasing new cans, and hiring new drivers & supervisory personnel -- all needed to expand the new "greenwaste" program.

But wait a minute. Now, this coming Tuesday, the City Council is holding a special 5pm meeting to vote on closing the FCCF (which is the facility that handles Folsom's solid waste recycling). The council has apparently realized that it is not working. The "diversion" rate (the amount of solid waste diverted from the landfill due to recycling) has not been meeting the state's mandated 50% requirements. Hefty fines (as high as $10,000 / day) were on the horizon. Plus, the facility has been losing money, costing you & I millions. (According to a quote by the City Manager, the loss this fiscal year alone will be $1.4 million.) So, closing the facility is a good thing (though why the city fought so hard last year to keep it open remains a mystery).

But does the city have a long-term plan on how to deal with recyling now? Will the city's utility service be expanded even further, to include pickup of recyclables, & perhaps even a collection site? Or would this be an opportune time to admit that contracting out to an experienced, larger, 3rd-party service would be preferable? These parties can likely do the job more economically, and offer more choices, than the city can. But the time to decide is now, not later, after committing hundreds of thousands of dollars for those additional employees, trash containers, and 5-year truck leases.

I do not know for certain that the council on Tuesday will not present a long-term plan on what to do. But my best guess is, they're going to say, let's close this facility now, and then figure out what to do. I don't think that's the right way to run anything, let alone our city. If you agree, please come to the meeting on Tuesday, and voice your opinion.

By the way, the city charter does not (as I read it) disallow contracting out utility services. However, unfortunately, it does require that such a decision be approved by the voters. See section 2.07D of the charter.

[bettyemahan]

Thanks Kanda----This is just what Jim Farris was trying to tell us with the expensive ad he bought in the Telegraph a couple of issues ago.

There was a city response in the FT last issue which was a "less than complete" statement.

For those who cannot get to the CC meeting regularly please keep us informed and watch the FT this week for "equal time" by Jim Farris.

[john]

Now that the prison recycling facility is closing, will the new recylcling program take its place? I believe there is a state law that each city must be recylcling 50% of it's recycleables.

I guess the real question is... who's going to pay for it now (although I think I know the answer...)

[kanda]

QUOTE

Now that the prison recycling facility is closing, will the new recycling program take its place? I believe there is a state law that each city must be recycling 50% of it's recyclables.

That's correct, John. As I mentioned above, the city could be fined as much as $10,000/day for having less than a 50% "diversion rate". (I think last year it was around 47% or so?) I think that's at least the 2nd year in a row that Folsom hasn't met the state-mandated 50% rate; this will be the 3rd. Who knows how much latitude we'll be given.

As far as I know, the city council hasn't announced a plan yet on what to do next. The "green waste" test program they've been running will probably be expanded to everyone, and I suppose they'll add a 3rd can for recyclables. How much that will raise our solid waste fees is anyone's guess. And will there be any economic incentive to use the extra (green waste & recyclables) cans? Stayed tuned for answers to these and other exciting questions! (I think I watch too much TV.)

[bettyemahan]

Good for you Kanda!!! In some communities, according to association by-laws, CC &R's etc, there is barely enough space to "store" one trash can, much less 3 or more. The city has a problem, but so do some of us!