Injuries? I want to see the numbers

[Christopher Bindel]

In response to what happened to the old garbage trucks, if I remember correctly we only bought a few of the new trucks. Most of the trucks we have are the same ones we had before the City instituted the new garbage collection method. They have just been retrofitted with devices on the back that make it so they can lift the new cans. I’m sure most of you have seen refuse workers roll the cans to the back of a truck and a device on the back lifts it and dumps it. That is one of our old trucks, not a new one, only the ones with the arms are the new trucks. The sole reason there is that metal bar on the front of the cans is so it can be lifted by the system on the old trucks.

[Meghan F. George]

This is my first post so I hope I do this correctly.

I personally can not stand the new garbage rules. I absolutely hate lugging that huge garbage can outside to my curb, along with my recyclables and yard waste. The cans look terrible all over Lakewood streets. A non-Lakewood resident friend of mine commented to me how terrible it makes Lakewood as she drives in. I had to agree, we are looking more like Cleveland every day.

Anyway back to the yard waste issue, since that seems to be the topic at hand. As a new homeowner in Lakewood, my husband and I started using the bags to drag yard waste to our curb. Within a few weeks we decided to purchase a plastic can for that for many reasons. Firstly, as someone mentioned, when those bags get wet, it is a huge problem! Secondly, it saves us money. I know those bags arent that expensive, but why waste money on them each time, instead just use a plastic can. Thirdly, I cannot carry those bags to the curb. They are way to heavy for my to pull down the drive, and usually end up splitting (especially when they are wet). I can drag a plastic garbage can down the drive, its much easier.

From the beginning I was very much against this change from back yard pick up. This is my personal feeling, this is not because of what ANYONE else has said to me. I foresaw many of these problems before hand and called a councilperson to discuss this with them. As I feared, once this plan was implemented there would be no turning back because too much money had already been put into place to implement this program. I think this change in garbage has been a huge disappointment.

[Stan Austin]

Meghan-- You've posted correctly and your opinion merits serious consideration. Welcome aboard! Stan

[Heather Ramsey]

Thirdly, I cannot carry those bags to the curb. They are way to heavy for my to pull down the drive, and usually end up splitting (especially when they are wet). I can drag a plastic garbage can down the drive, its much easier.

I think this is inadvertently explaining why the cans ARE a problem for yard waste - you can put much more in and drag it, but the workers still have to pick it up to dump it and you are less likely to realize exactly how much you're putting in.

(I'm still against this change, as one of the only reasons I went along with the new system was that people could easily still use their old trash cans, but I can see why it's becoming a problem)

[David Anderson]

I prefer using the cans for my yard waste as opposed to the bags as well. However, the explanation forwarded by Ryan seems somewhat reasonable.

To further the interest of saving money, perhaps the city should consider picking up garbage every two weeks during the winter months instead of every week. This would save a ton of hours (if this is the real goal).

I have a wife and four kids and we never fill up the green can and I only take it to the curb once every two or three weeks. However, I can’t do this during the summer because of the smell of even one bag of garbage cooking in the heat. (I never had to deal with my garbage smelling so bad during the summer before we had the green containers.)

Just a thought.

[J Hrlec]

Just an idea...maybe they should limit the size of cans allowed to be used for this purpose to help avoid the possibility of overloading and injury for our sanitation workers.

I have not personally had any issue with the change in refuse collection. I have had the paper yard refuse bags break before but that was because I forgot to leave them open to help moisture escape and forgot to bring them to be collected for over a week.

[Phil Florian]

Excuses, excuses, city hall can generate them for just about anything... You see where this is going?

Another run for office?

[Jim O'Bryan]

maybe we should have switched to this little trucks?

Was out talking to a client about truck graphics and saw this mini-garbage truck.
Said they were only $56,000 each. How much were the larger trucks?

Maybe we could have had a fleet of these?

FWIW