Originally Posted by
Lee Chowaniec
Hopefully the town is considering the following concerns and questions some residents likely have:
• For the great majority of residents who are in compliance with the lidded container code (having already spent personal funds to be in compliance), why are they now being compelled to participate and pay into a program to bring slackers into compliance?
• Has Lancaster experienced an increase in rodent sighting complaints? Has the Erie County vector zone noted an increase in rodent sightings and/or complaints? Residents in other municipalities do not report a decrease in rodent sightings because of the use of totes if other good practices are not in place regarding picking up dog feces, not ground feeding, not picking up bird feeder spills, and uncut grass and un-kept properties resulting in pest harborage, etc.
• What are we expected to do with the containers we have already purchased?
• Seniors and individuals with disabilities will encounter difficulty in handling the larger, heavier totes.
• Residents in MFR-3 districts have an option of requesting a smaller cart because of storage space / age / handling restrictions, shouldn’t the same restrictions apply to any housing dwelling; why no option here.
• By current Town Ordinance refuse containers should be stored in buildings or enclosures. This code requirement is not being enforced. The larger containers stored in garages will adversely impact space availability and if stored in sheds will not fit many current sized sheds. The ordinance was established to prevent rodents from eating through totes. This ordinance may be eliminated out of necessity as the great majority of enclosures that are now in use will not be big enough to store the larger sized totes (carts) – which means leaving them outdoors rendering them susceptible to rodent and other varmint entry.
• According to this proposal, bulk pickups (furniture, appliances carpeting) will take place only once per month – a hardship for communities like ours as where do you store the bulk.
• Recyclables will be picked up every other week.
• If the town purchases its own totes, is there an opportunity to receive a grant to offset the tote costs?
• If the contractor were to supply the totes, is there an upside to that option?
• Are the garbage trucks so automated to allow for only a one man operation?
• The tote operation appears to favor the waste management company regarding operation handling, reduced labor intensity, medical costs from lifting, etc. Will the town realize a cost reduction from the tote operation?