Resident discusses recycling, complains Waste Management inconsistent





During the August 2 Pleasanton City Council meeting, resident Kelly Crady-Desjardin shared how she began recycling following one of her child’s school projects. Aside from the city-issued container, her family has another tub that they place out to recycle. They recycle a lot, as they are a family of six. She becomes frustrated when she and her daughter have to pick up recycling items all along her street. She would like to see the city talk to Waste Management, the city’s garbage collection service, about possibly issuing something with a lid.

“We took the time to recycle those items. A lot of it is aluminum, yes, some of it is cardboard. Those things get wet when it rains,” said Crady-Desjardin.

Then she described the recycling as free money for the city.

She said her second issue was that her family pays for two cans. Recently, her family put out more than those two cans and Waste Management did not pick up the additional bag. Crady-Desjardin said she was really upset about this. She has neighbors who only pay for one can and every week their extra two trash cans are picked up. She questioned why they could not pick up her extra trash when she pays for two cans.

Also, the cost for a second can is being lowered to $9.20. Her family moved to the city in January of 2010. She calculated that this meant she has paid an additional $294.40. She asked the city to consider a refund of this money because she felt that she had overpaid.

City Manager Bruce Pearson clarified that, as far as he understood, it has only been in the last couple of months that Allied Waste/Waste Management has said they are going to do an automatic pick-up, as well as reduce the price for the second can. Up until this point, the second can has always cost the same as the first can.

City Councilwoman and former City Manager Kathy Coronado (Dist. 3), explained that that is what the city was having to pay Allied Waste.

“Just like you were having to pay us (the city) the full price, we were having to pay them the full price for any customer with a second can,” said Coronado. “So, we would be giving you our money back that we are not going to get back by Allied Waste.”

Crady-Desjardin commented, “So, technically, I should have been doing what every other citizen was doing, just paying for one can and filling up every other trash can and putting it out on the street? There’s no limit to what Waste Management will pick up, based on looking at my neighbor’s trash. So I need to drop paying for the second can?”

Coronado repeated what she had said at a recent meeting, which was that she recalled in previous contracts that Waste Management would pick up the carts and up to two additional bags each time. However, since the company has gone to using automatic trucks, Waste Management has tried to decrease the amount of extra bags and instead wants to give a better deal on the second cart as encouragement. Coronado said she understood her frustration.

Councilwoman Jeanne B. Israel (Dist. 6) said the woman’s timing was incredible, since this was discussed at a recent meeting. Israel said clarification is needed on whether or not Waste Management will pick up anything extra. Crady-Desjardin asked Israel to drive around town on a trash day and look at how inconsistent it is. She again asked council to look at the recycling issue.

Israel wanted her to understand that, “I believe the way things are that we are no longer going to be getting any money back from our recycling. That was in last year’s presentation when we accepted the proposal by Allied Waste.”

Mayor Clinton J. Powell explained that the last check the city received for its portion from recycling made him want to laugh. Coronado said it was ridiculous—about $15.

Crady-Desjardin said she throws away more than $15 worth of aluminum cans in a month. Powell said he does, too, but that is all the city received.

Pearson added, “It is a market-based commodity. About two years ago, prices on recycling wood, cardboard, plastic just dropped drastically. Over about six months time, most city were breaking even. So to even say we received a $15 check shows some improvement.”

He also said that even when the prices were higher, it cannot be looked at as a money-maker. It has to be looked at as a conversation effort and the right thing to do.

Crady-Desjardin said she disagreed. She worked for HEB for over 10 years and the money they recycled in cardboard alone was huge. Then she asked if the city has looked at other companies. When she learned the city just renewed their contract she said it was disappointing.

Councilman J.R. Gallegos (Dist. 4), told her that from this point on, she will be saving money because she will be paying $27.80 vs. $37.60. Gallegos said he would personally speak to Rudy Rodriguez of Allied Waste about her concerns. Powell reiterated that clarification is needed on what will and will not be picked up. Pearson said he would ask Rodriguez to come to an upcoming meeting.

In other related news, the council voted unanimously to direct City Manager Pearson to bring back an ordinance for adopting the amended waste hauling rates , to include rates for a second 96-gallon residential or commercial container. This will be effective with the Sept. 15, 2012, billing cycle.

Pearson explained he had a draft ordinance for the council’s approval. The new rates are 10 percent added to the new Consumer Price Index rate, as Rodriguez of Allied Waste proposed to council at a recent meeting. The ordinance will be brought to the next meeting for its first reading.



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