Tuesday, April 20, 2010

New Programs from RECOLOGY OF THE COAST



Hi everyone...I have gotten some e-mails from people saying they are confused about what or what not to do with the new garbage/recycling programs.  I am going to attempt to answer all questions and give all the information I have right now...
 
STARTING THE WEEK OF MAY 3RD

DO I STILL USE MY OWN GARBAGE CAN?
Yes, the two carts we delivered are in addition to your own garbage can.  We will be providing a choice of new wheeled garbage cans in the summer.  You will receive a card in your home asking you to choose between a 20, 32, 48 or 64 gallon can and these cans will be delivered around August/September.

WHAT GOES IN THE BLUE CART?
All the recycling items that previously went into the bins, along with all plastic containers marked 1-7 (we will now take bakery and deli items, berry baskets, pill bottles and microwave dishes  but NO PAPER BAGS), all your cardboard boxes and tubes, aluminum foil and pie plates and household batteries (put in a plastic ziplock bag on the top of the bin)

THIS CART WILL BE PICKED UP EVERY OTHER WEEK (USE YOUR GREENWASTE SCHEDULE) ALONG WITH YOUR GARBAGE CAN AND GREENWASTE/ORGANCS CART.  IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT WEEK IS YOUR PICKUP, GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.RECOLOGYOFTHECOAST.COM AND CHECK BY DAY AND STREET (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER) TO SEE WHAT SCHEDULE YOU ARE ON FOR PICKUP.  I AM ALSO PLANING ON PRINTING THIS ENTIRE SCHEDULE IN THE TRIB ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28TH.
 
WHAT GOES IN THE GREEN CART?
All the greenwaste you were putting out in the 4-30 gallon cans every other week as well as fruits, vegetables, meat and bones and soiled paper (butcher paper, McDonald's wrappings).  If your child eats at McDonald's, the paper bag would go in the recycling, the hamburger and fries wrapping would go in the greenwaste/compost cart along with any left over food and the soiled napkin.

 THIS CART WILL BE PICKED UP EVERY WEEK ALONG WITH YOUR GARBAGE CAN.

NO KITTY LITTER OR DOG DROPPINGS IN THE GREENWASTE/ORGANICS CART PLEASE!

WHEN IS MY PICKUP DAY?
All pickup days remain the same except your recycling now gets picked up every other week and your greenwaste/organics gets picked up every week.
 
CAN I GET A SMALLER CART OR ADDITIONAL GREENWASTE CART?
We will have smaller carts for both recycling and greenwaste/organics available June 1st.  We ask that you try the carts you have for thirty days and if they still do not meet your individual needs, call or e-mail us and we will pickup the one you have now and deliver an alternate size.  On the other hand, if you need an additional greenwaste cart, we can supply another one for a fee of $3 a month.

Please review and advise if this helps anyone!  If you have any other questions, shoot them through (no, don't shoot me!).

Chris Porter, the Pacifica Garbage Queen!

50 comments:

Steve Sinai said...

Thanks Chris.

Do you know what the price differences will be between the 20, 32, 48, and 64 gallon cans for regular garbage?

Also, what kind of alternative sizes are available for the blue recycling bins, and what would the costs be?

I'm glad to see we can get an extra greenwaste bin for $3 a month.

Steve Sinai said...

Just curious about something else - why can McDonald's paper bags go into the recycling bin, but other paper bags can't?

Do the brown paper bags from Trader Joe's go into regular trash, or can they go into the greenwaste bin?

Chris Porter, General Manager Recology of the Coast said...

All paper bags (any color) can go into the recycling bin in the new and old programs. If the bag is soiled with food or contains food for the greenwaste/organcis cart, that bag should go in with the greenwaste/organics. I do know there will be smaller cans for the recycling but do not know the exact sizes yet. There is no cost to exchange a can size, just notify us after June 1st. I do not know the prices of the individual garbage cans yet.

Steve Sinai said...

Thanks, Chris.

You mean your official title isn't "Pacifica Garbage Queen?"

Kathy Meeh said...

Hi Chris, thanks for advising, more questions.

1. What about the nasty plastic garbage bags used to carry garbage to these containers, where do they go? Currently many of us take the clean plastic bags and other such plastic bags to Safeway.

2. What about other items which may contain some plastic, such as dippers and related pads?

3. I'm assuming food in expired food in cans and jars must also be removed and sorted from their containers prior to dumping.

Many thanks again to you and your staff for being so helpful during this transition-- and prior.

Chris Porter, General Manager, Recology of the Coast said...

Plastic bags should be placed in your regular garbage can after depositing their contents into the recycling or greenwaste/organics carts. Diapers and related pads should be placed in the regular garbage. Please remove all expired food from the cans and jars before placing them in the recycling cart. Thanks for the kind words.
I passed them on to my staff.

One Sanitized Customer said...

Which container are we supposed to use for our Recology bill?

Chris Porter, General Manager, Recology of the Coast said...

The recycling blue cart after you tear off the portion to return your payment with!

Garbage is too complicated said...

Maybe Recology should have put pictures of what goes in what bin!!!

Kathy Meeh said...

"Too Complicated" you'll probably also need pictures on how to find the can, how to open it, how to throw-in the right stuff; how to move the can back to where it was the next day, and how to get back into they house.

Way too complicated said...

Pictures are very helpful! Here are some pictures of the Pacifica City Council after the upcoming 2010 elections so that you will know who to vote for - especially since Fix Pacifica is not offering/recommending any candidates: The 2010-2012 Pacifica City Council

I look forward to a continued prosperous and sustainable future for Pacifica!

Can't Tie My Own Shoes said...

Seriously.

Pretty soon people will whine that Recology should come and place the trash in their bins for them.

How do these people figure out how to dress themselves each morning.

Fix Pacifica will fail before the election said...

For the same reason why P4P failed..

Kathy Meeh & Jeffrey "Tex" Simons

Steve Sinai said...

Fix Pacifica is clearly getting under someone's skin.

Kathy Meeh said...

The new, evolved organization from P4P is Pacificans for an Improved Economy, email address: improvedeconomy@gmail.com. Those interested in supporting city pro-economic improvement and city council candidates for the same may send an "I'm interested and I'm willing to help" kind of email.

Poster variations on "bad omens" (allegedly Jim Alex) you really do need to move beyond these repeated false, irresponsible comments and ill wishes for those who support needed, improved economic development for this city-- unless you really prefer the 8 year city council generated status quo of "nothing for Pacifica".

And, if you really are a proponent of "nothing for Pacifica" why hide in the shadows, why not stand under the "sunshine" identity of your actual given name and support and promote your cause?

Otherwise what you're doing is a negative distraction of your overall intent. Here's an old football analogy: The player intercepting the football, takes it past his own goal line to score points for the opposite team. Is that your strategy? If not, as Kathleen might say "wake up", you might consider being part of the overall solution to "fix Pacifica", rather than being a proponent TOOL of the "nothing for Pacifica" propaganda machine status quo.

Anonymous said...

Kathy,

Is this a serious group? If so, I'll send my email contact info.

Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Will the real Kathy Meeh please step-up? Will Jeff Simons stop posting for Kathy? You can tell the difference... and what is Kathy's obsession with this Jim Alex person? I can't imagine PIE is serious with these guys in charge.

Kathy Meeh said...

Jim Alex, you have chosen to be a jerk, so with each of these irregularities as seemingly identifiable as you, you will be recognized by me until this stops. The pattern is clearly yours unless you have an evil twin. The obsession is not mine.

Anonymous, Pacificans for an Improved Economy will support genuine pro-economic candidates for City Council during the 2010 election. The email address again is: improvedeconomy@gmail.com.

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Kathy. Email sent.

Anonymous said...

It would be a big help if Recology would post a really detailed list on the web site. I've already started using the new bins (plenty of room), but lots of questions when it comes down to sorting stuff. Like:

* Little plastic forks that come with take out food. Recycle, or garbage?

* The slick colored cardboard that frozen meals come in. Recycle? Compost? Garbage?

* Unusual stuff from the list on this web site - http://www.greendivamom.com/2009/01/12/1-unusual-things-you-can-compost/ (human hair, pet fur, nail clippings, dryer lint, vacuum cleaner bag) Compost? or Garbage?

* Dead CFL lightbulbs -- where do they go for recycling? (I'm told they have to be recycled but I don't have a clue where to take them).

If the goal is "waste zero" -- every time I go to dispose of something I find myself wondering if it can go in one of the cans rather than the garbage. (And despite snide comments, I don't think its dumb to ask these questions).

Jim Alex said...

You are a complete moron. Take your medication.

Kathy Meeh said...

"Learning Anonymous" above, I have some similar confusion about some items. And what about pieces of wood (green container I suppose). At least we're trying to learn and comply.

Chris said the dirty plastic bags from bring garbage go into the regular garbage can, so the assumption is that we will also have our generic, miscellaneous TRASH can as we do now), I guess-- not much left going into that one for me I think.

Since the cans are designed for automated curbside pick-up, should they be placed in the gutter of the street, sidewalk or same location further back?

Hope Chris, will see our questions, and ignore those comments which are counter-productive. thank you for your list of 11 UNUSUAL THINGS YOU CAN COMPOST . For those interested in keeping a hard copy, transferring the information to a word document worked for me.

Fortunately from viewing that list curbside Recology recycling seems easier and a little less complicated than composting at home. I'm really looking forward to not sorting cans from plastic and glass.

Anonymous said...

For those interested in keeping a hard copy, the Print button works pretty well too.

Kathy Meeh said...

Anonymous, great idea, I recommend YOU do that-- at least 5 extra pages of print compost.

Anonymous said...

what about styrofoam? can we put that in the blue container? i do realize that styrofoam peanuts cannot, but i am talking about solid styrofoam, the type that comes with electronic devices.

Anonymous said...

how about thermal paper, can that go into the big blue container with the other recycle stuff?

Anonymous said...

How about spent uranium fuel rods? Which container should those go in?

Chris Porter, Recology General Manager said...

The little plastic forks that come with the takeout meals should go in the garbage. Thermal paper and the slick cardboard packaging with the frozen food meals. Waxed cardboard should go in to the greenwaste/organics cart. CFL and flourescent light bulbs go to the recycling yard. Large pieces of styrofoam should be brought to the recycling yard. We are currently not recycling this styrofoam because there is no available market but we are properly disposing of it so the beaches and streams (and the secret waterfall)are not polluted by this material. Styrofoam meat trays should be placed in the trash. Uranium fuel rods should go in your San Alamos (sp)pickup box!

Chris Porter, General Manager, Recology of the Coast said...

Sorry, it's Los Alamos for the uranium fuel rods!

Jim Alex said...

Chris

Have you seen the Waste Management cans? They actually have pictures of what goes in what can.

Anonymous said...

"Thermal paper and the slick cardboard packaging with the frozen food meals."

????

Anonymous said...

Stop. Everyone you guys are little kindergartens. Don't you know how to read ENGLISH. Leave Chris alone she's is got enough of silly ???.that doesn't make sense.

You should be thankful that RECOLOGY is making feel part of the world and we don't look like third world country. Think about that.!!!

Chris Porter, General Manager, Recology of the Coast said...

Sorry..Themal paper and pcakaging slick cardboard in the recycling cart please. A pictured flyer was sent with the cans showing what items go into which cart. REMINDER THAT THE NEW PROGRAMS AND CARTS BEGIN THE WEEK OF MAY 3RD ON YOUR REGULAR PICKUP DAY AND YES, YOU CONTINUE TO USE YOUR OWN GARBAGE CAN ALONG WITH THE OTHER TWO CANS.

Kathy Meeh said...

Chris, greenwaste (green can) and recycling (blue can) pick-up begins at the same time, depending upon our address schedule? Or greenwaste (green can) specifically begins week of May 3rd, recycle depends upon schedule?

Thanks for answering this clarification.

Anonymous said...

It would be nice to put these answers in the Tribune. Lots of people are confused.

Kathy Meeh said...

Chris, questioned answered. Watched the replay of city council, and there you were explaining the program again. Greenwaste pick-up begins the week of May 3rd for everyone. Recycling depends upon the ADDRESS SCHEDULE .

Chris Porter, General Manager, Recology of the Coast said...

We will be having a full page color ad in the Tribune tomorrow. We have used every medium I know to get information out; TRIB, websites, blogs, e-mail groups, townhouse and condo associations, direct mailings, flyer with cart delivery, City Council podium, Chamber of Commerce events, Earth Day and POOCH booths, PSA with Channel 26 (coming soon) and our own office CSRs. Frequently asked questions and answers regarding Recology's new programs was in the TRIB last week. Recology is about giving people all the information they need and I know we are really trying to do our best.

confused by garbage said...

If we put everything in the right can, do we get college credits???

This is complicated, some stuff in garbage can, some in the blue can other stuff in the green can??

Color Blind said...

Ms. Porter:

I am color blind. Been that way since birth. Does this mean that I will be stuck with all of my garbage? Please help! I barely have enough room for my car as it is!!!

Chris Porter, General Manager, Recology of the Coast said...

Hello...All change seems to be complicated but we are trying to get as much info out as possible. If someone is color blind, next week is blue and the following week is yellow and so on and so on.......

Anonymous said...

Dear Ms. Porter,

Change can be difficult, but in the case of waste collection and recycling in Pacifica, it needed to happen.

Personally, I am happy with the changes. We get to recycle so many more types of waste and we now have curbside composting to boot.

Thank you for putting up with all the nonsense. You must have a heck of a sense of humor.

Ms. Underestimated

garbage can thief said...

wait till I steal Kathy Meeh's garbage can! This time I will mail little pieces of the can back to her.

Kathy Meeh said...

Huh, "garbage can thief Scrooge" no one in my neighborhood actually steals garbage cans. Following a wind storm, the can disappeared for about 2 weeks, reappeared across the street propped-up against a neighbor's fence. 3 weeks later the lid reappeared next to my side yard stairs.

So, no doubt the little plastic pieces you mentioned will also re-materialize-- if not, now the entire US Postage package can be recycled without sorting. Win, win!

Anonymous said...

". A pictured flyer was sent with the cans showing what items go into which cart."

And that has pictures of maybe 20% of the stuff I have questions about. I appreciate the pictures, but I DO NOT APPRECIATE being treated as if I am stupid for asking about stuff that is made of some kind of plastic or some sort of treated paper or cardboard when there is no corresponding picture -- and absolutely nothing on the Recology web site to answer the questions.

But don't worry, I won't ask any more. I'll just dump everything wet into the green bin and everything dry into the blue bin and let you guys figure out if and when you want to drop the marketing hype from your web site and actually put up something informative, in WORDS, which is how many people communicate. It would have been easy enough for you to put up a searchable database or some sort of wiki on your web site -- but if you want to pretend like your pretty little flyer is informative, go right ahead.

I mean... its not my job to sort out the mess (literally) you are creating for yourself.

I was just trying to clear up some points of confusion under the mistaken idea that my questions and their answers might help other people who were wondering the same thing.

concerned garbage customer said...

Is Recology on the coast going to go after the deadbeats who owe garbage bills? I can think of one bald slow dim witted person who lives in town who is always slow paying his bill.

This guy knows it all cause he is the master grant writer in town. He was the mayor and he was on the council..Boooooofokingwhooooooo.

The town was just as broke busted and dysfunctional as it is now while on his watch.

Btw for another hint this resident genius was a bread truck driver.

Right Said Fred said...

I was busy arranging a conference. But I have all the paperwork in my car.

bald dumb slow stupid man said...

Don't make me walk out to my car I have all the paperwork in my trunk. I am warning you don't make me go get the papers. I have all the papers. Don't make me get the papers.

Anonymous said...

Where do number 5 plastics and number 6 plastics go?
Thank you.

Anonymous said...

1-7 "the triangle" go into the blue recycling.

Anonymous said...

Above there is a response (4/25)that take-out utensils should be put in the trash (black)bin. If the take out food was purchased in Pacifica, these utensils might be/should be compostable, per the ban on use of plastics (solid and foam polystyrene) and therefore might go in either the green (compostable) or blue (recyclable) bin.

Sure would be nice if this was all recapped somewhere on a chart on the Recology website. Including corrected statements to initial mis-communciation on what is what.