Totes are coming to Lancaster

[Lee Chowaniec]

So what is the general opinion on totes in town?

According to Supervisor Coleman everyone she talks to wants them. That must be so as no one has made any public comments on the project. Regardless, they are coming and no good reason was ever given why.

[mark blazejewski]

According to Supervisor Coleman everyone she talks to wants them. That must be so as no one has made any public comments on the project. Regardless, they are coming and no good reason was ever given why.

I heard it said that talking to yourself doesn't mean your crazy, but answering yourself back is not a good sign. Is the Supervisor's office an echo chamber with mirrors?

[Lee Chowaniec]

By unanimous resolution vote the town board of the Town of Lancaster will receive final proposals to provide municipal refuse collection and disposal; and recyclable materials collection and processing within the Town of Lancaster Garbage and Refuse District pursuant to an RFP generated by the Town of Lancaster and which will be available for review on August 16, 2018 in the office of the Town Clerk and online at http://www.lancasterny.gov

Although the resolution makes no mention that the final proposal includes the use of mandated totes, the initial Draft Proposal makes that quite clear – as did the town board discussions on the matter in two work sessions. When questioning town officials on what precipitated the town in going to the use of mandated totes the general response was that the waste management contract was up and that it is time to go to totes.

Board discussion/comments at recent work session

Recyclables – Industrial Standard favors 95 gallon totes and pick up every other week. Town currently does not get paid for recyclables – some towns do.

Tote storage – current code calls for storage in a building or shed. Tote size may prohibit that and not that the totes are attached lid covered the current code may be amended to allow outside storage.

MFR-3 (Apartments) – Some larger complexes are not paying enough to offset town waste management costs…may require a special billing system. If challenged such entities maybe able to cut a better deal with a waste management company on its own. According to law some may be considered a commercial entity. Some apartment buildings use totes and dumpsters.

Bulk – will be picked up once per month.

Additional totes – May have to be purchased.

Contract length – 5 years

Use of personal purchased ANSI certified totes – residents asking why they cannot use the ANSI certified totes they purchased and spent up to $200 on. Each resident will receive a 95 gallon tote and until such time it will be determined what lift operation (three options) will be used, that question is unanswerable.

All agreed that the project process is complex and fluid.

West Seneca Garbage and Recycling Guidelines

http://westseneca.net/sites/default/...delines(3).pdf

Thank you Gorga for posting the recordings of the town board work session on the Speakup website. So much information comes out of this meeting that does not appear at the regular town board meeting or published in the media.

[gorja]

Anyone know where shredded paper is to go?

I usually put my shreddings in a clear plastic bag and place in my garbage tote. Should I be putting the shredded paper in my recycle bin? Loose or bagged?

[WNYresident]

Tote storage – current code calls for storage in a building or shed. Tote size may prohibit that and not that the totes are attached lid covered the current code may be amended to allow outside storage.

I would want this removed. Pain in the ass if the home owner doesn't have a shed or garage. Even if they have a garage totes are bulky.

[gorja]

I would want this removed. Pain in the ass if the home owner doesn't have a shed or garage. Even if they have a garage totes are bulky.

The Code officer said it would probably need to be removed as the totes do have hinged lids and lack of space is an issue for some

[Lee Chowaniec]

I would want this removed. Pain in the ass if the home owner doesn't have a shed or garage. Even if they have a garage totes are bulky.

It will be removed and without controversy as the ordinance was not enforced anyway. It will be interesting to see how the code change will impact Home Associations where current rules state garbage containers must be stored within the building. The larger totes will impact garage storage space.

The issue in my mind is that the town board has put out a RFP without feeling compelled to have a public hearing:

• On reasons for the use of town mandated totes in lieu of residential purchased lidded containers – many of which now meet ANSI standards.

• What is the upside of the new operation? If it is for rodent and pest control will enforcement toughen on ground feeding, dog feces pickup, birdfeeder cleanup, property upkeep, etc. If residents overload their totes and if the lids are up will the waste management company refuse pickup? Why not now when slackers use garbage bags or containers without lids?

• Their cost to the town and whether that cost will be offset by a grant – as intimated at their town board work sessions.

• Why can’t residents use their ANSI containers along with the town mandated totes

• What do we do with the old containers?

• The cost of purchasing additional town mandated totes if needed by larger families.

• The shelf-life of the tote and whether it is guaranteed rodent / varmint chew-through-proof.

Yes, the residents could be asking those and other questions at town board meetings but they are not. Why not is beyond me. Then again, too many people get involved or have something to say after the policy goes into effect. Then again, the town has publicly offered nothing in formation to warrant residents’ reasons for concern. The silence is deafening.

Then again, the Supreme Leader has proffered that everyone coming into her office wants to know when they are getting their totes. Everybody’s happy, right? One size fits all, right? Who needs a public hearing, right? One is not required by law, right? It’s just the nanny state doing its job, right? This could be a good thing, right? They just need our tax dollars and not our input!


So Res, Cheektowaga has been using totes for some time. What do you see as the upside?

[gorja]

Originally posted by Lee Chowaniec:
Why can’t residents use their ANSI containers along with the town mandated totes

I posed that question at the last meeting. The town attorney didn't give a definitive answer but did state that he would look into being able to use mine along with the one the town provides.

[gorja]

Someone smooshed a squirrel in front of my driveway. Dead animals aren't allowed in the trash. YUCK

[gorja]

Final RFP

https://www.lancasterny.gov/document...sals/file.html

[Lee Chowaniec]

Final RFP

https://www.lancasterny.gov/document...sals/file.html

Read the final RFP. Some property owners are in for a surprise.


I especially like the directive that if the homeowner does not follow the waste management handling guidelines their garbage will not be picked up. Why are they not following the same directive now for the slackers who are not adhering to the use of lidded containers for solid waste materials only?

[gorja]

You really have to wonder how the current trash contract was calculated for apartment complexes.

Edgewater apartment 5828 Broadway, assessor site states 182 high rise apartment. The refuse tax on their tax bill states they were taxed on 110 units. $16,281.69

Brookhaven apartments 5844 Broadway, assessor site states 84 apartments. The refuse tax on their tax bill states they were taxed on 59 units. $8,711.22

50 Grambo drive behind the Alden bank, assessor site states 50 units. The refuse tax on their tax bill states they were taxed on 35 units. $5,185.25

11 Robert Dr on Com Park Blvd, assessor site states 32 units. Their tax bill states they were charged refuse tax on 22 units.
$3,318.56

I believe in the upcoming contract, these apartment complexes will have to contract on their own

[WNYresident]

You really have to wonder how the current trash contract was calculated for apartment complexes.

Edgewater apartment 5828 Broadway, assessor site states 182 high rise apartment. The refuse tax on their tax bill states they were taxed on 110 units. $16,281.69

Brookhaven apartments 5844 Broadway, assessor site states 84 apartments. The refuse tax on their tax bill states they were taxed on 59 units. $8,711.22

50 Grambo drive behind the Alden bank, assessor site states 50 units. The refuse tax on their tax bill states they were taxed on 35 units. $5,185.25

11 Robert Dr on Com Park Blvd, assessor site states 32 units. Their tax bill states they were charged refuse tax on 22 units.
$3,318.56

I believe in the upcoming contract, these apartment complexes will have to contract on their own

Why a difference in cost? Do these apartments get a tote each or just common trash pickup from a dumpster?

$16,281.69 / 182 = $89.45 per tote

$8,711.22 / 84 = $103.70 per tote

$5,185.25 / 50 = $103.70 or $5,185.25 / 35 = $148.15 per tote

[gorja]

Why a difference in cost? Do these apartments get a tote each or just common trash pickup from a dumpster?

$16,281.69 / 182 = $89.45 per tote

$8,711.22 / 84 = $103.70 per tote

$5,185.25 / 50 = $103.70 or $5,185.25 / 35 = $148.15 per tote

They were taxed-

$16,281.69/110= $148.01 REFUSE $16,281.69 110 148.150000 110 at the rate of $148.15 should be $16,296.50
$8,711.22/59=$147.65 REFUSE $8,711.22 59 148.150000 59 at the rate of $148.15 should be $8740.85
$5,185.25/35= $148.15 REFUSE $5,185.25 35 148.150000 Bingo that's correct
$3,318.56/22= $150.84 REFUSE $3,318.56 22 148.150000 22 at the rate of $148.15 should be $3259.30

I really can't imagine the apartment building sitting out 110 totes on garbage day.
Some of these places must have dumpsters

[Lee Chowaniec]

You really have to wonder how the current trash contract was calculated for apartment complexes.

Edgewater apartment 5828 Broadway, assessor site states 182 high rise apartment. The refuse tax on their tax bill states they were taxed on 110 units. $16,281.69

Brookhaven apartments 5844 Broadway, assessor site states 84 apartments. The refuse tax on their tax bill states they were taxed on 59 units. $8,711.22

50 Grambo drive behind the Alden bank, assessor site states 50 units. The refuse tax on their tax bill states they were taxed on 35 units. $5,185.25

11 Robert Dr on Com Park Blvd, assessor site states 32 units. Their tax bill states they were charged refuse tax on 22 units.
$3,318.56

I believe in the upcoming contract, these apartment complexes will have to contract on their own

It does appear that those multi-residential parcels are using both carts (formerly known as ‘totes’) and dumpsters – as was mentioned by the town at a work session. It could be the reason the town mentioned that some complexes were getting a free ride and where the following has been included in the RFP:

7.3.2 Collection from Multiresidential and Municipal Parcels

There are currently six (6) Multiresidential parcels ranging between five (5) and eight (8) units that will have the option to join the cart based program. The remaining Multiresidential parcels in the Town and Village will no longer be part of the Refuse District and must seek arrangements independent of this contract.

Other

What are your thoughts on this one, Gorja? Every unit owner will be issued one 95-gallon cart from the town. If needed, additional carts can be provided – up to four. But does this language mean the homeowner will have to purchase each additional tote to the one allotted.

7.3 Refuse Collection

d. Optional collection of an extra cart at a Town parcel. In a circumstance where a resident requires an additional cart, the Town will offer a second cart at a fee established in Appendix F, plus Town administration fees.

And, there are other items that need clarification, but hey, a public hearing is not mandatory or being called for by any board member. The town wants totes says Madame Supervisor and therefore no public input is needed.