The Observation Deck

I recycle as much as possible, but with having the rescue here, crate training, newborn puppies, and regular puppies, I honestly fill 2 large garbage cans a week. That is just for the rescue. Then I fill another one just with family stuff, and then we have stuff that wont fit in any container with the remodel stuff. Large contractor bags, or doors, windows etc. will these new trucks be able to handle this stuff?

It's great to see that the city is thinking of new ideas to save money and balance the budget, but I hope they realize how much more work they have to do.

One of the favorite lines of the defenders of this city's dramatically higher taxes are that we (theoretically) "get what we pay for". If we go ahead and cut a "perk" of living in Lakewood (and one that is, like it or not, very symbolic of our "good city services"), what message are we sending to those people thinking of buying a house in Lakewood?

I've said it before on this forum: do not underestimate how many people shy away from Lakewood because of the high taxes. I can personally count at least 4 couples that my wife and I know. These are well educated couples in their late 20's or early 30's with good incomes...EXACTLY the people we need in this city.

In my opinion, we get decent city services, but we certainly don't get the level of service that Rocky River or Westlake sees. I'm not saying that I expect that level of service (although I do hope they do a better job plowing this season), but if we start chipping away at services, we better start chipping away at the tax rate too.

I love this city and I want it to thrive, but reduced city services AND continued high taxes is a perfect recipe for Lakewood's downfall. Let's not forget that.

I appreciate everyone's perspective on this.

I put my cans in the garage anyway because of the raccoons. So, I move this bucket twice a week anyway – family of five soon to be six; one bucket. How do we do it? A lot recycling, that's how.

Personally, I would like to institute a single comprehensive system instead of one for garbage and a second for recyclables that:

1 - Saves taxpayer money; and

2 - Moves Lakewood toward being recognized as the greenest city in the nation in terms of per capita recycling, low per capita refuse/garbage, collection efficiency (emissions required) and funds being brought back into the city budget due to recycling.

In my opinion, a comprehensive restructuring could be a transformative event for our residents and Lakewood's image.

Think big, do the homework and move boldly.

I'm all for "going green" but in my own limited reading on the subject, the start-up costs of "going green" can be astronomical. It might, for example, produce an apparent savings over time to have curbside pick-up, but how much indeed will we save, having to purchase all that new technology? (trucks, equipment etc...) To me, THAT'S got to be a BIG issue. Whether or not that might be done "over time" does not change the supposition that there will probably need to be an outlay of millions of OUR dollars, in order to switch to curbside pick-up.

So often, the main source of "green" seems to come out of our wallets, and, (I think this REALLY needs to be addressed) how much of the new "green" is REALLY "green"? I would only suggest that we look carefully for any smoke and mirrors, whether that would involves public, or private "green" purchases.

In a related vein, it also seems to me, that to rely on the consumer in the long run to provide free labor to recycle their trash is an optimistic exercise at best. An effective recycle program would best seem to transpire at an intake facility of some type, where trash could be sorted out automatically, and not unlike waste treatment facilities do with our water supply. This is not a new concept either. During World Wars One and Two, massive recycling of basic raw materials occurred. My observation would be that, as a society, we don't seem to want to do much of that ...yet.

All complex issues, and I, for one, am glad to see the Mayor (and council) taking a look at all the options. I may not agree with this curbside program proposal, but thanks to Mayor Ed FitzGerald for having the vision to initiate discussions on Lakewood's need to economize!

It's great to be able to express our opinions on these important issues....

As a point of clarification, I want to point out that Lakewood's refuse intake center on Berea Road seems to be doing an EXCELLENT job with sorting out stuff brought in by residents for recycling purposes. They'll take your recyclables and see that they go where they're supposed to. They also have a great professional paper- shredder!

I can imagine a system where there is no house-by-house trash pick up.

Every few blocks there are some larger sized bins. people take the trash there themselves. or pay kids to do it. it will be a good job for kids now that newspaper delivery jobs and shoe shine jobs and lawn mowing jobs are scarcer.

There will be standardized trash carts for loading into a dangerous hand-cranked spring-loaded lever that empties the carts into the bins. Then the garbage trucks only have to hit a few hundred bins instead of tens of thousands of houses. the bins are scheduled to be emptied as soon as they are over 3/4 full.

We lived in Arizona and had one large garbage can and one large recycling can. As a family of seven the only can we filled on a regular basis was the recycling can. I would love a system like this as we already take our cans to the curb.

Missy Limkemann wrote:What worries me about this is a street like mine. At the end of my street is the apartment complex, and everyone parks on the street, and how would the robot arm get around the parked cars to my garbage.

The Mayor and council have done an exemplary job in cutting spending without affecting service. If these steps were taken four years ago the City would have millions to invest in housing, infrastructure and development. With any luck the steps taken so far will provide that money in a few years.

Having said that....

I am not sure that eliminating back yard garbage pick up makes economic sense. Lakewood streets are so congested that the garbage crew will have to leave the trucks to move the garbage cans so they can be picked up by the robot arms.

I wouldn't care if it was just a matter of moving the cans to the street but half of each street will be inaccessable to the robot arms. Banning parking on garbage day or other such ideas will turn a service into a disservice.

It might be better to charge something for the current system with a 50% disount for recyling. The problem I have with this idea is that the extra money might just be used to continue current inefficienies. A budget problem is an opportunity to reexamine operating procedures and expenditures. So far the Mayor and council have done a fine job of walking a fine line.

Have they overstepped the line? I don't think so. However, unless the savings are certain and substantial it might be better to charge a small fee for the current service with a substantial discount for recycling.

Right now nobody thinks about garbage day. If garbage day becomes a day of hassle the sour taste of inconvenience might linger and undermine more important efforts to right our listing ship.

A women mayor of Chicago (whose name I forgot) lost her reelection bid because of poor snow removal during a snow storm. People didn't care much about millions lost to corruption, bloated bureaucracies, crime, poverty and loss of jobs but were up in arms when they had to plow their own streets to get to work.

GASP!

Bill Call and I found COMMON GROUND on an issue?

WOW!

Now THAT'S something to be thankful for.

Seriously, Bill's point about a mayor losing an election reminds me of that running urinal at the Lakewood Park Womens' Pavilion, and the hundreds of posts on the 'Deck over months and months about it continuing to run and run and run.

I really think that our former mayor's reaction to that issue might well have helped to put Mayor FitzGerald into office.

When enough people feel strongly enough about an issue, things start to happen.

With close to 1000 visitations already regarding the garbage issue, I really think that keeping back yard trash pick-up might be every bit as much a bellweather issue as that running urinal may have been for our city awhile back.

Now Let's SING our Lakewood Thanksgiving Song for 2008!

We gather together, in Lakewood and elsewhere,
And wonder at changes the new year will bring.
The internet gave us this new information,
But for cyber-salvation? In vain do we sing.

With Fitzgerald's new dumpsters, our garbage we gathered,
And placed it on tree lawns, once shady and cool.
In Lakewood's dark winter, we slid it to the curbside.
At least in the summer, those dumpsters'll make pools!

In deepest November, we went to the polls here.
We elected Obama to lead us somehow.
And back here in Lakewood, we feared for our mortgage.
And wondered if those dumpsters will be homes for us now?

We learned about markets, of banks and of bail-outs,
We learned of conspiracy theories galore.
As we feast on the gizzards of shape-shifting lizards,
We wish for Thanksgivings, as in days of yore!

Hi,
2 questions.
1). What is going to happen to the fleet of cushmans' that now pickup trash? I thought we just acquired them during the last administration

2). I don't understand the working of the new suggested way so maybe it's clear to others. What happens when the new trash can is knocked over or sitting at a 45 degree angle in a snow pile? Does the guy get out of the truck or does he leave the trash for the homeowner to hold on to for a week?

I ask because I have seen trash people look at one of my grass clippings bag 4 or 5 times before I've gotten it just right for them to take. That isn't green.

just out of curiousity, will Lakewood ever adopt the "recycling tubs" that other cities use? Again, I cite my misspent youth in Mentor, when everyone was issued a big red tub for recycling; everything went in there (paper, glass, etc.), and they had a special truck with several different bins on it, and when it pulled up, the worker tossed the recyclables into the appropriate bin, sorting it right there at the curb quickly and efficiently.

Would something like this work in Lakewood, or is it more efficient just to do it as we've been doing all along?

Donald Farris wrote:Hi,
2 questions.
1). What is going to happen to the fleet of cushmans' that now pickup trash? I thought we just acquired them during the last administration

2). I don't understand the working of the new suggested way so maybe it's clear to others. What happens when the new trash can is knocked over or sitting at a 45 degree angle in a snow pile? Does the guy get out of the truck or does he leave the trash for the homeowner to hold on to for a week?

I ask because I have seen trash people look at one of my grass clippings bag 4 or 5 times before I've gotten it just right for them to take. That isn't green.

From what I understand, the City is shooting to get the new equipment setup to begin collection in May 2009. I’m sure the drivers will go through some kind of training on how to use the new equipment and a communication will be distributed and/or video will be posted to the City’s website to assist the residents with the new procedures. Drivers and residents will have at least 6 months to get things right before any heavy snow sets in.

Just back from the test of the new trucks and cans.Up on the road at 7:30 am so that you can sleep in.


The Expert 2000 ready to be tested.


Councilman Brian Powers watched as the truck performed flawlessly.


Joe Beno demonstrated how easily they roll.


This shows both side being used. One side is for automated collection the other side is for manual collection.


Council members Nickie Antonio, and Brian Powers check out the mandatory
garbage cans.


In the parked car test, the truck again was able to collect the can, though
it was pointed out that the 7' arm limitation meant, all cans would have to
be on the curb, or would be out of reach.


The can is large, with large hollow hard plastic wheels, for rolling around.

More photos from the test at:
http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/jim-obryan/december-2008

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I'm glad I don't have to park on the street. Was there any demonstration of what would happen if the cans were positioned behind a car? Do the sanitation workers just go around repositioning the cans onto the driveways?

Brian Pedaci wrote:I'm glad I don't have to park on the street. Was there any demonstration of what would happen if the cans were positioned behind a car? Do the sanitation workers just go around repositioning the cans onto the driveways?

Brian, there was and it worked.

My single biggest question would be the length of the arm at 7'

It would seem very hard if it had to go between cars.


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