I realize it's likely something very simple to think about...but trash really has me upset right now. In the Town of Franklinton, we don't handle our own trash pickup; we have it outsourced to Waste Industries, as part of a method by which to save the Town (and thus, our citizens) money. We choose to have backyard pickup in deference to our many senior citizens who can't laboriously pull their trash cans to the road due to their heft. This year, when creating the contract for WI, we had many conversations about this issue, and WI let us know in no uncertain terms that it would be much cheaper (about $4 a month cheaper) to do curbside pickup. While this may be the case...we feel strongly that we have to honor our senior citizens this way. Because of this, we were dealt a $2 increase in the cost of this service.
Now...the last time I checked, when I paid for a service, I expected it to be done. When you pay for someone to mow the grass, you expect it to be mowed. When you pay for someone to cook a meal at a restaurant, you expect it to be cooked to order. Right? Well, apparently this isn't the case when it comes to our sanitation contract. For the past month, every time I've come home on a Tuesday, I've found my green trash bin (owned by Waste Industries) sitting at the side of the road. Now, you tell me what is wrong with that picture. And it's not just my trash can, and it's not just on Second Street! It's ALL OVER TOWN. I'm sorry...the citizens of this town pay FAR TOO MUCH to have service not rendered! If you think I'm angry about it - you're right!
Our Town Manager, Larry Carver, has communicated this issue to Waste Industries on more than one occasion. My patience level has expired. Therefore, I need your help! If your trash container isn't placed back where you left it for the sanitation company to pick it up, please call Town Hall and let us know. Your informing us when there are problems will help us rectify those problems, and can drive how those services are provided in the future. However...please don't yell at us! It's not us doing it! But...it is going to be us fixing it. I simply will not stand for the citizens of this Town being underserved. It will not fly on our watch!
2 comments:
Elic,
About a month ago I came home to find the green trash can at the curb as well. I wasn't sure what had happened since I didn't put it there. Anyway, that was the only time this happened at my house on Nash Street. Since then it hasn't happened to me again. The collectors have always come into the yard, taken the can to the truck (except when I only had one or two bags), and brought it back.
Perhaps the Town could save a bit by requiring citizens who are able to do so place their cans at the curb and WI collectors be aware that those that are not at the curb are seniors who may not be able to move the refuse and go into those yards and get them. There may be a problem with enforcement but it seems to me that most of us would be willin to help out this way.
Jim Sutton
202 Nash Street
27525
Jim -
Thanks for your comment! (I think you're the only one.) Unfortunately, Waste Industries only does full curbside or full backyard; they can't do it piecemeal unless we revert to a different system. It'd be differentiated charges; this can be done, but it's a different type of system. We looked at it, but we weren't able to examine it as in depth as we needed to in time (we got the proposal on that right before we went to sign the contracts). We're going to look at it again next year.
Thanks again for your comments and suggestions. Know that we'll take them in hand when we look at this again in the spring!
Elic
Post a Comment