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Thread: Totes are coming to Lancaster

  1. #226
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    Quote Originally Posted by gorja View Post
    I should have said that was the way I interpreted things'
    .

    Yeah, isn't that nice.

    I will ask for clarification on Tuesday night
    Thank you, Gorga.

    We have been the only two that have been vested in this project from its inception, June, 2018; the only two that have shared information and through you alone, asking questions of the town board at meetings and at a public hearing where you were the only one to speak and question the board. Hopefully there will be others at Tuesday’ town board meeting where the meeting will open with an informational meeting with Waste Management speaking on their program regarding refuse handling and their expectations from the public.

    Hopefully, residents will not only question and comment on Waste Management’s presentation, but also question the town board on their expectations and what codes will be established to ensure new contract regulations and guidelines are enforced; and the resulting actions and consequences of non-compliance behaviors.

    Residents have been calling in for information, but answers provided by the town do not get publicly shared. As an example, many of us are interested on how we are going to dispose of our private containers which have been deemed not useable when the new contract officially takes place. A resident called the call and was given the following response: “You can either use them as a storage bin for yourself or toss them if you would like. They are not recyclable so you would need to place them in your new 95 gallon garbage cart, once you receive it.”

    Perhaps that may work for those who receive 95-gal carts and don’t generate much garbage. That is not feasible for those who will fill their 95-gal carts or for those property owners receiving 65-gal carts and have privately purchased 65-gal totes in size, and larger.

    Hopefully, residents will get better clarification concerning monthly bulk pick up of more than three items regarding disposal process and associated costs. The suggested use of a Bagster can be costly and difficult to manage – where to place it and how to get it to the road for pickup.

    Hopefully, the town board will be questioned on the status of refuse code regarding the changes or modifications needed to ensure compliance. Will waste be picked up if there is a code violation.? What process will be followed? What are the consequences? Will Waste Management be a partner in the process?

    Bumps along the road are expected. The town was so sure that the new contract process would be in place by February 1, 2019; and now it has been delayed until March 1 and with further bumps expected during the transition period. And, it has only been in the past few days that the town and Waste Management has disseminated any public information to the town residents.

  2. #227
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    I’m questioning if ordering black colored totes was a smart move from a visibility perspective. These things are obviously going to be curbside and on the shoulders of the roads, so a bright color would have made sense. I would venture a guess that there will be more than a few car-tote collisions once this rolls out.

  3. #228
    Tony Fracasso - Admin
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    Wait until a few get slammed by a car during the night. The wind will blow a few around. What were we all taught in school? Wear reflective or light colored clothes at night while walking along a road.

    If anyone would like I will be more than glad to sell a tote owner reflective lettering for their totes. This way if they do roll into the road the oncoming traffic will have a better chance of seeing them.

  4. #229
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    Quote Originally Posted by chadjohnson400 View Post
    I’m questioning if ordering black colored totes was a smart move from a visibility perspective. These things are obviously going to be curbside and on the shoulders of the roads, so a bright color would have made sense. I would venture a guess that there will be more than a few car-tote collisions once this rolls out.

    Excellent observation!

    So much for public input, eh. The totes have already been ordered and the information meeting is yet to come.

  5. #230
    Member gorja's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by WNYresident View Post
    Wait until a few get slammed by a car during the night. The wind will blow a few around. What were we all taught in school? Wear reflective or light colored clothes at night while walking along a road.

    If anyone would like I will be more than glad to sell a tote owner reflective lettering for their totes. This way if they do roll into the road the oncoming traffic will have a better chance of seeing them.
    They're not our totes. They are town property, if I understand correctly.

    Georgia L Schlager

  6. #231
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    Quote Originally Posted by chadjohnson400 View Post
    I’m questioning if ordering black colored totes was a smart move
    Smart move? There hasn't been a smart move on this entire process. You can't say smart move when referring to anything the current supervisor has done.

  7. #232
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    Spoke to several individuals in town today and none had received the promised Waste Management mailer containing same information as they have on their website that explains new contract agreement regarding process, procedures, guidelines, expectations, etc.

    Just another broken promise in a project lacking in transparency and where a town board informational meeting is to be held this coming Tuesday with Waste Management to cover the process. Thank goodness the Lancaster Sun has get us up to date on the project - NOT!


    It would be unfortunate if no one addressed the board and Waste Management Tuesday evening for clarification on the new, once per moth bulk pickup policy (3 item limit) and the how and at what cost bulk is to be handled and disposed of during the rest of the month:

    Company contact for pickup
    Use, cost, handling and pickup for the Bagster
    Use, cost, handling and pickup for a dumpster

  8. #233
    Member gorja's Avatar
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    This is what someone wrote on Nextdoor.com regarding yard waste

    Here’s some interesting info to think about with the upcoming town meeting on Tuesday Jan. 22 concerning the new garbage regulations.

    Williamsville picks up yard waste at no additional charge. They tell their residents to put it in an open container or paper bags.

    Cheektowaga picks up yard waste at no additional charge. They tell their residents to put it in biodegradable paper bags.

    Amherst picks up yard waste at no additional charge. They tell their residents to put it in separate garbage cans or paper bags.

    West Seneca picks up yard waste at no additional charge. They tell their residents to put it in an open container or paper bags. They also charge $50 per additional tote.

    Akron picks up yard waste at no additional charge. They also charge $70 per additional tote.

    Village of Depew charges $50.25 per additional tote.

    Georgia L Schlager

  9. #234
    Member gorja's Avatar
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    When I got home from work yesterday, I noticed that my neighbor two doors down had not had his overflowing garbage picked up.
    So, I don't know if WM is starting to fulfill their responsibility in not picking it up or if the family put the trash out after the trash was picked up.
    It's still sitting out there now at about 3:00am

    Georgia L Schlager

  10. #235
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    With all the imperfections of this contract, it still is much easier on the wallet compared to contracting on your own.
    When you look at the prices people are paying in towns where you contract on your own and not the town doing the bidding,
    our costs are substantially lower. One 96 gallon tote in Clarence with a 18 gal recycling basket like we have now costs the
    resident $33.16 per month or $397.92 per year. If you want two 96 gallon totes, it would cost the resident $66.31 per month
    or $795.72 per year. YIKES!!!

    https://www.wm.com/store/catalog/res...oCode=Clarence

    Georgia L Schlager

  11. #236
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    Quote Originally Posted by gorja View Post
    With all the imperfections of this contract, it still is much easier on the wallet compared to contracting on your own.
    When you look at the prices people are paying in towns where you contract on your own and not the town doing the bidding,
    our costs are substantially lower. One 96 gallon tote in Clarence with a 18 gal recycling basket like we have now costs the
    resident $33.16 per month or $397.92 per year. If you want two 96 gallon totes, it would cost the resident $66.31 per month
    or $795.72 per year. YIKES!!!

    https://www.wm.com/store/catalog/res...oCode=Clarence
    Lancaster is a full-service town, Clarence is not.

    The new unit contract cost is still reasonable (as has been acknowledged several times) and is due to the modifications made in the agreement between the town and Waste Management:

    • Apartment complexes numbering more than eight units are no longer included in the contract and have to contract their own refuse server.

    • Bulk is now limited to a once per month pickup and limited to three items. Contracting to have a Bagster or dumpster and associated costs need to be further clarified – and can increase costs significantly.

    • In an attempt to keep costs down the town will now charge a fee for a second cart and a fee to cover disposal cost – which has increased significantly.

    • Charging refuse removal fees by unit and garbage generated levels the playing field; unlike some municipalities that set fees by property assessment.

    • Codes established to ensure compliance is a must; as well as enforcement. Waste Management must partner with the town to ensure compliance. Supervisor Coleman stated numerous times before contract settlement with Waste Management: “We have to wait to see what they will offer us,” Well, now we will see what kind of partner they turn out to be. In fairness to Waste Management, they too often picked up materials and garbage in bags that were already listed in the code as not acceptable.

    Many residents are in for a rude awakening.

    To those who have used lidded containers, even buying new ANSI certified totes, and have been in compliance otherwise, those shiny new totes will look cool, force others into compliance (hopefully), and if it eliminates but one rat it will be worth it, right?

  12. #237
    Tony Fracasso - Admin
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lee Chowaniec View Post

    Many residents are in for a rude awakening.

    But the rate population may be lower.

  13. #238
    Member gorja's Avatar
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    Here's the Garbage/Recycling Q&A recording from Tuesday night.
    The first 1 hour and 45 minutes of the TB meeting was the Q&A session.
    https://soundcloud.com/user-329292372/2019-01-22-tbm

    Georgia L Schlager

  14. #239
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    Not directly related to the subject of this thread, but I would like to thank the Supervisor's office for some prompt attention.

    For personal reasons, our Christmas was delayed this year. I disposed of the tree yesterday.

    When Waste Management failed to pick it up, Supervisor Coleman's office responded promptly, and the issue was quickly and satisfactorily resolved.

    Thank you.

  15. #240
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    Concerns rise as new garbage program rolls out
    Lancaster Bee


    Dozens of Lancaster residents filled the Council Chambers Tuesday night to ask questions and share concerns about the new waste and recycling program taking effect Feb. 1.

    Several town residents spoke out with criticism, expressing a lack of transparency between the board and residents prior to its Jan. 7 approval, and concerns with the new cart size.

    As part of the new program, residents of single-family homes will receive two, 95-gallon carts, one for garbage and one for recycling. Solid-waste pickup will remain weekly, but recycling collection will change to every other week.

    Residents may also notice a change in their collection day to accommodate the new program, allowing for trucks to work more quickly and travel much farther, said Dawn Timm, consultant for the town’s new program. A new route schedule was uploaded to the town’s website and mailed to residents this week.

    Bulk collection will also change to monthly, rather than weekly, with a maximum of three items per month to be collected during the second full week of each month.

    Tires will no longer be accepted; residents are advised to contact a local tire service station or automotive shop selling tires to inquire about proper disposal.

    “In a streamlined collection program such as this, cart-based collections affords greater efficiencies and lesser costs to the government. That was the goal of this program. In order to keep that streamlined approach, there’s a dedicated bulk week,” Timm said.

    The new program also allows residents to purchase extra-capacity stickers for any additional bagged items for collection, with a maximum weight of 40 pounds per bag. They will be sold in the Town Clerk’s Office for $5 each. Additional totes will be available after June 1 for an extra annual disposal cost of $103.

    Discussions of a new contract began one year ago, according to Supervisor Johanna Coleman, knowing that the town’s former five-year contract with Waste Management would expire this month.

    “We put out a request for proposals and we only got two proposals: one from Modern [Corp.] and one from Waste Management. After several months of reviewing and combing through those proposals, we then determined that we could get the best service at the best cost through Waste Management,” said Coleman.

    In the late fall of last year, the town began finalizing the negotiations with Waste Management while simultaneously requesting bids for 30,000 new carts.“We received several proposals, determined which was the best price, and the company that gave us the best price [for the carts] was Rehrig Pacific Company. We didn’t just snap our fingers and say, ‘Oh, let’s get some totes and change the way we’re doing this.’ This has been a long and very developed process.”

    At Tuesday night’s meeting, resident Daniel Kochmanski asked the board why the new program wasn’t mentioned to residents much sooner in advance, since discussions were in the works last year.

    “That way, the input of the audience would’ve been taken at that time, as opposed to after you already agreed to the contract two weeks ago when it’s basically already done and over with,” Kochmanski said.

    Coleman replied by saying the board has been very transparent with the project, with it “being discussed at meetings for well over a year.”

    “Nothing has been hidden from the public. We’ve been as transparent as possible,” said Coleman.

    Other residents were concerned that the new carts are too large for seniors to handle. Timm explained that the town took a proactive measure in addressing the older population by distributing smaller, 65-gallon carts to single-family patio homes, townhomes and condos. All seniors claiming an exemption also were assigned 65-gallon carts.

    “We found it’s more suitable due to space concerns and also size, that a 65-gallon cart would be much more accommodating to those individuals,” said Timm. Timm said that others who demonstrate a hardship should prepare a statement to the town supervisor for review after June 1.

    Dorothy Mergi, a 94-year-old town resident, asked the board if there was a way she and others who may not have applied for senior exemption could exchange their 95-gallon carts for smaller carts before June 1.“I can’t wait four months before I can get the smaller containers. I’ll be dead by then!” Mergi said.

    Timm advised Mergi to call the town’s garbage and recycling hotline with her accommodation. Accommodations will first be made for residents demonstrating a hardship due to the size of their cart, according to Timm. However, there will be a limited number of 65-gallon carts available after delivery.

    Residents at Tuesday night’s Town Board meeting also wondered how to dispose of yard waste, grass clippings and glass. Glass is not an acceptable recyclable in the new program.

    According to Timm, glass has become less and less marketable as the use of food grade plastics has rapidly risen. She said there is also a very high rate of contamination by broken glass in the recycling stream.

    Instead of recycling, she suggests residents either dispose of glass with their garbage or bring all deposit glass back to a store or redemption center.

    As for grass clippings, they can go inside the trash cart. Yard waste such as brush and leaves will be collected by the Highway Department as usual.

    More information about the new program can be found by visiting www.lancasterny.gov and clicking “Refuse and Recycling.” Individuals may also call the town’s hotline at 601-0923 or email garbage@lancasterny.gov. Inquiries will be responded to within one business day.

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