That proposed life, detailed by City Manager Cravens, in the 28 page MSW (Municipal Solid Waste), Recycle, and Yard Waste Collection and Disposal Program has little to do saving roads, or the hauling away of traditional garbage (MSW).Instead it is a omen or presage of the coming of a super hauler who will perform many functions for City residents whether they like it or not.
The bullet points in the letter are not numbered. We started with ones that promise "no additional cost " because they usually turn out to be the most expensive. The bullet points from the City manager are in bold italics. They are based on more detailed explanations found in
City of Bloomfield Hills MSW , Recycle, and Yard Waste Collection and Disposal Program which appears in Blue rectangles.
- All yard waste will be picked up at no additional cost and there will be no limit on quantity, as long as the yard waste is in approved paper bags and brush is bundled appropriately,
The problem here is the March to the second week of December schedule which with its freeze thaw cycle is most unfriendly for our roads and will be acerbated by a two truck (garbage and leaves) pick up..
A second problem is the collection of leaves. If one rakes and bags their own leaves there is no problem. If one hires a service as many residents do (usually coupled with Summer lawn mowing) a problem crops up. Many services offering fall clean up often bundle the raked leaves in very larger tarps and take the leaves with them. Apparently there is redeeming quality in old autumn. leaves. Bagging them for a Super Waste Hauler could involve additional expense. Some residents use leaves to fill depressions in wooded topography. Some use leaves for mulching a lawn. How much of that will be allowed or lost under the new system which will be per ordinance mandatory is yet to be determined.
- All customers will receive expanded recycling service at no additional cost.
As with the yard waste collection, Recycling will be mandatory by ordinance. The legality of that in terms of penalties has yet to be tested. So far the only thing expanded about the proposed recycling is the truck that hall it away. Howard's disposal a current City hauler uses a standard sized van to haul Yard waste/ Recycle. The suggest alternative is a large multi axle truck.
The Mayor did question, when the topic first came up last Winter, the size of a of 95 gallon container designated for the many 2 person households in the city. That made the use standard recycle bins an acceptable alternative.
On occasion Mr. Cravens gives the impression that Moral Turpitude is the reason why the City's recycling sometimes lag. He often compares his City of residence (Rochester Hills Population 71,000) with his City of employment (Population 3800) and finds the latter lacking. A fairer comparison would be with that of Hunting Woods (population 6238,) which sponsors numerous civic programs for voluntary ecological improvement of which increased recycling is just a part.
The Mayor did question, when the topic first came up last Winter, the size of a of 95 gallon container designated for the many 2 person households in the city. That made the use standard recycle bins an acceptable alternative.
On occasion Mr. Cravens gives the impression that Moral Turpitude is the reason why the City's recycling sometimes lag. He often compares his City of residence (Rochester Hills Population 71,000) with his City of employment (Population 3800) and finds the latter lacking. A fairer comparison would be with that of Hunting Woods (population 6238,) which sponsors numerous civic programs for voluntary ecological improvement of which increased recycling is just a part.
- The Waste hauler will provide a wheeled card for refuse and a second cart for recycled materials. Customers may use either cart or approved refuse waste bags. There will no charge for the wheeled carts.
No but for most of the week the containers will take up space in your three car garage. It is property of the City so heaven help you if yours "wanders off."
- Bulk item collections and disposal will be available at no extra cost.
Great for getting rid of a microwave, fence parts or railroad ties.
Not good for outdoor wooded bulk which requires an evaluation and a decision by the Waste Hauler's Brush Collection/Chipping Service manager.
In the event of an emergency or a natural disaster that service should be rendered by the City's Public Safety Department or the City's Department of Public Works. In last summer's super storms many very large trees came down and luckily there were no injuries in most cases. The DPW cleared and maintained the road ways. If it was your tree that fell it bull dozed onto your property and you arranged for clean up with a company of your choosing.
What Mr. Cravens is proposing is small potatoes in regards to real storm clean up or a disaster and normally not in the repertoire of the regular waste hauler. Most likely it would involve a referral to a third party. Probably from the waste hauler to a tree company. In the Contractor Business everybody knows somebody who can do something.
Key point here is that property owner "shall (mandatory) be instructed to contact the Contractor, (The waste hauling company) to quote a price negotiated by the City and the Waste Hauling Contractor in the initial bidding process. Does the City's interest in establishing price with a waste haulers for other services beyond waste hauling preclude the property owner's right to their own decision as to who to hire at what price ? Interestingly enough that is the crux of the of the whole waste hauling issue which will be decided on November 4th. Either you decide what happens on your property or the City does and if the City does waste hauling is just the tip of the ice berg.
Mr, Cravens when stating the above did not seem interested receiving calls at his office. This is one of a few examples of how the our City's main motivation in the waste hauling situation seems to be delegating the matter to someone else rather than solving a problem, if in fact a problem even exists.
One would assume that after the first contract expires (five years) many of the costs involved with Customer service will be passed on to the Customer.
A single axle step van or its equivalent is not a small vehicle. Admittedly it is not big as the picture above, shot with a wide angle lens to emphasize size for a sale, but it is not exactly tiny either.
With all the talk of maintaining our roads and presumably residents newly re-surfaced drive ways you would think the City could come up with something better than more trucks of size.
One company Nichols Disposal, which has served the City for 28 years, already has. The truck stops and two workers run up the driveway and in one or two trips retrieve the trash by hand which is then deposited in the slightly smaller than usual trash truck. We have watched them. It is quick and it is efficient.
Not good for outdoor wooded bulk which requires an evaluation and a decision by the Waste Hauler's Brush Collection/Chipping Service manager.
- The Waste Hauler will provide clean up assistance, brush cleaning,and chipping service, as an optional service to customers in need of help after a storm or natural disaster.
In the event of an emergency or a natural disaster that service should be rendered by the City's Public Safety Department or the City's Department of Public Works. In last summer's super storms many very large trees came down and luckily there were no injuries in most cases. The DPW cleared and maintained the road ways. If it was your tree that fell it bull dozed onto your property and you arranged for clean up with a company of your choosing.
What Mr. Cravens is proposing is small potatoes in regards to real storm clean up or a disaster and normally not in the repertoire of the regular waste hauler. Most likely it would involve a referral to a third party. Probably from the waste hauler to a tree company. In the Contractor Business everybody knows somebody who can do something.
- A Field Manager will be available to respond to customer service issues during scheduled collection times from 7am to 5pm.
Mr, Cravens when stating the above did not seem interested receiving calls at his office. This is one of a few examples of how the our City's main motivation in the waste hauling situation seems to be delegating the matter to someone else rather than solving a problem, if in fact a problem even exists.
- Service may be suspended during extended absence from the City.
- The Designated waste hauler will be encouraged to provide discounts.
- The Designated Waste Hauler will provide the same services residents are accustomed to receiving. Inside and or door side pickup would remain available for single family homes.
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| A single axle step van |
With all the talk of maintaining our roads and presumably residents newly re-surfaced drive ways you would think the City could come up with something better than more trucks of size.
One company Nichols Disposal, which has served the City for 28 years, already has. The truck stops and two workers run up the driveway and in one or two trips retrieve the trash by hand which is then deposited in the slightly smaller than usual trash truck. We have watched them. It is quick and it is efficient.
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