As part of this new program, a floating employee from the Town's Sanitation Department will inspect and replace damaged totes. Totes will only be replaced if structurally damaged; a tote will not be replaced for any other reason. The employee will inspect the tote for damage, the damage will be properly detailed and it will be determined if replacement parts are needed or if it should be replaced with a brand new tote. The Town will then contact the manufacturer to file a claim.“By starting the tote inspection program, we are making sure that each and every tote is serving its intended purpose of storing garbage and recycling away from the sight of neighbors or out of reach from rodents,” said Supervisor Diane Benczkowski. “By getting rid of food sources, rats and rodents will not thrive. A good tote is only as good as the individuals and families using the totes. We need each and every resident’s help to make sure that garbage and recycling is properly placed in the tote and not disposed of in a careless manner.”
What is a floating employee?
How is the information given to the employee? If a sanitation worker sees a damaged tote are they going to report it or will the reporting only happen if the home owner calls it in?
As the people who pick up the trash clearly see damaged totes can they just have the driver mark down "778 street name" needs wheels and hand it in at the end of the day?
One floating employee can not literally inspect 35,000 totes without padding their over time like it's going out of style.
If each inspection took 5 minutes, 35,000 totes X 5 minutes = 2,916 hours. Seeing sanitation workers, from what I'm told, can clock out after 4 hours that would be 145.83 20 hour weeks to complete a full inspection. If it was a full days work at 8 hours minus lunch we are looking at 83 solid weeks at 35 hours a week. 7 hours plus 1 hour for lunch X 5 days.
How many items on the tote are user replaceable versus receiving a new complete tote. If the town is going to start "repairing" damaged totes who will do the repairs? Will the parts be given to the home owner or will the floating employee swap parts?
Valid point. If the totes are not closed rats will get in if possible. You can't fix issues with families who don't use the totes properly unless you fine them until they learn.
Tell property owners to go to Value and ask for Victor Rat traps. They work.
“I’ve received numerous complaints about the increase in rat problems and we’re trying to be proactive about this. The tote inspection program is a great idea to get a handle on all damaged totes before the warranty runs out,” said Councilmember Christine Adamczyk.
Question:
How many complaints have been called in per month? What system are we currently using to track the complaints?
Does Christine have this data available?
Are the complaints issued on town owned property like sewers or an area in a park?
Or is the rat issue on home owners properties?
Or is the rat issue being caused by an open dumpster say at a restaurant that is effecting property owners near the restaurant.
If residents have a damaged Cheektowaga tote, they are asked to call the Cheektowaga Sanitation Department at (716) 686-3426 for an inspection. Additional garbage totes are available for sale in the Town Clerk’s office and additional recycling totes are free upon request.