Flyer for Automated refuse collection

Shelley Hurd · Post by **Shelley Hurd** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 3:19 pm

Coming soon to Lakewood - Lord save us

Found a hand out which shows how Automated refuse collections work.

This complicated collection proceedcure.... in this city... with our narrow streets... and abundance of on street parking.... and snow issues...and.....

Check it out and share your feelings

http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/streets/doc ... le2007.pdf

Shawn Juris · Post by **Shawn Juris** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 3:35 pm

Is this true? I have to double bag my deer carcasses now?!?!? Funny that the city shown will accept Deer Carcasses but not doggy doo.

I'm sure this will work out fine. Sure the unions may not be happy because there will be just one guy instead of the team of 8 but otherwise it sounds worth checking out. I am curious though why the big jump. Would the next logical step if backyard pickup was done away with be to put 3 guys on an existing truck and have them do curbside only pickup? This would avoid the need to purchase specialized cans and trucks and eliminate the concern about parked cars. Is the cost saving that great to make this a better option?

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 3:47 pm

Shawn Juris wrote:Would the next logical step if backyard pickup was done away with be to put 3 guys on an existing truck and have them do curbside only pickup? This would avoid the need to purchase specialized cans and trucks and eliminate the concern about parked cars. Is the cost saving that great to make this a better option?

Shawn

This is what Dennis Devito, the steward for trash collectors has said.

Give us two wheelers or curbside pick up. It is harder to lift the trash into the cushman then out again into the truck.

.

Shelley Hurd · Post by **Shelley Hurd** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 3:59 pm

Does make ya wonder.

I mean, I thought we were in a "Budget crisis"

2.5 million dollars for a experiment of this magnitude does give one pause considering we are in what the Mayor and Council call this cities worst budget crisis.

I realize that over a ten year period this move "might" save us money.

But hay, buying a hybrid car would save me money after 7-10 years. However, my own personal budget crisis doe not allow me the luxury at this time to frivolously gamble away my money on hopes of a 10 year down the road future possible pay off.

The only gambling I do is an occasional lottery ticket.
But then all I have to gamble with is my personal funds, I may feel differently too if the money I gamble with was someone else's to lose.

Shelley Hurd · Post by **Shelley Hurd** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 9:21 pm

Check this site out also... will give some insight to how Snow related issues are delt with.

Big fun for residents...

http://www.west-hartford.com/TownServic ... onFAQs.pdf

Stephen Eisel · Post by **Stephen Eisel** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 9:32 pm

http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewt ... c&start=45

Ed FitzGerald wrote:

We've said this from the first day automation was proposed up until now, but I guess we need to just keep repeating it.

ANY Lakewood resident who is physically unable to take their trash to the curb will be accomodated by a backup system where we will do it for them. We are not eliminating the maximum number of employees that we could under this new system, for just that reason- to have extra capacity to serve those with special needs.

In other cities- and I'm including cities that get more snow than we do, and with just as many seniors, the number of residents physically unable to do this has been under 2%; but just to be on the safe side, we are assuming even more here.

This change will be a sacrifice, however small, only for those physically able to take their trash to the curb, along with the recycling and miscellaneous items we will continue to pick up. By making this sacrifice, we will avoid approximately $500,000 in other cuts, which I assure you might affect the city- including its most vulnerable residents- in more significant ways.

Shelley Hurd · Post by **Shelley Hurd** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 10:01 pm

Steve, come on

A picture is worth a thousand words and puts propaganda in perspective.

This system is going to consume more of our time ,getting cans placed exactly properly, money from parking fines, .....and waaaay more involvement with neighbors then I can to have.

Picture your self asking your neighbor if you can put your extra garbage in their can. Or them asking you

Picture your self looking for parking that is "feet" away from any can.

Picture your self digging a special slot in the snow to place your can.

Picture Lakewood this time next year... wee big fun for you and me!

http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/streets/doc ... le2007.pdf

And for some insight to how Snow related issues are delt with.

http://www.west-hartford.com/TownServic ... onFAQs.pdf

I'll say it again BIG FUN for residents!!! wee

Stephen Eisel · Post by **Stephen Eisel** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 10:35 pm

Shelly,I have a freind that lives in Westerlo,NY. They get a lot of snow and their garbage is picked up by these one armed bandits.. Let me ask him what happens in the winter...

Shelley Hurd · Post by **Shelley Hurd** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:16 pm

Stephen Eisel wrote:Shelly,I have a freind that lives in Westerlo,NY. They get a lot of snow and their garbage is picked up by these one armed bandits.. Let me ask him what happens in the winter...

Both flyers come from different cities on different coasts, one is from West Hartford which is located in Central Connecticut and the other Madison Wisconsin. I believe both experience snow. And I believe both the flyers stated you have to dig a cubby hole/slot in the snow and snow banks to properly place your can.

Both have in common the wording and instructions in their automated refuse flyers. Those are almost identical. And the reason why they are almost identical is because the automated refuse collection works the same no matter what the location.

It works in areas that are more like Westlake or even Rocky River (West Hartford or Madison Wisconsin). Where streets are wide, (ever drive down Hall?) cars are not parked in the streets, peoples yards extend to both sides of their driveways, ...

Automation does not work in dense areas with on-street parking, one way streets...In fact automation ADDS to time and mileage in cityâ€™s like Lakewood due to having to pick up trash from only one side of the street at a time. Then turning around to pick up the other side.

It also adds to fuel usage due to its smaller load size then current trucks which equal more trips to dump.

It also adds to fuel costs due to the fact that Automated equipment cycles approximately 700 to 1,200 times a day. In comparison, manual loading trucks average a mere 200 cycles per day.

Also, automated trucks tend to operate continuously between stops, causing their hydrolic system to operate at higher temperatures. Because of the high cycle rates, the service life of many of the components are consumed faster.

So our maintenance budget will ballon and equipment replacement schedual will become about 3-4 years. Usually 3-4 years is the life-cycle of an automated truck, but most assuredly replacing the arms will be a must. (An Automated Decision, Kim O'Connell)

Shelley Hurd · Post by **Shelley Hurd** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:01 am

Also of note.......

The refuse department is one of the if not THE most leanest ran departments in the city. Their work force is so lean infact that it is hard for these folks to schedule vacations or even take time off for illness.

The recycling programs help to off set some of their operating costs, and they deliver a service to Lakewood residents that is both superior and then its peer city Kettering. CHEAPER. Our refuse department is cheaper and offers us more service then and any other comparable city I have been able to find- if I am wrong- please share.

Lakewood residents paid about 14.01 in 2007 for BACK YARD trash pick up and unlimited bulk pick up, and yard waste removal, and recycling andâ€¦..

Kettering residents paid:
â€œThe cost per month for unlimited, houseside pickup of trash and recycling is $15.58 (billed quarterly). This also includes free weekly bulk pickup and monthly used appliance pickup.
The City has always used private companies for trash hauling. In July 2004 the City went to a one hauler system with a five year contract with Waste Management.â€(Mary Jo Csizma Residential Waste Coordinator, City of Kettering)

So we have better service, more service and the cost is OVER a dollar cheaper. So this is when one needs to ask Council and the Mayor what the hell is going on here?

Cause the facts of our Structual Balance Report and Performance Audit Report do not support an issue with the Refuse Department....