BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ
Daily Post Staff Writer
Don’t be alarmed if someone’s going through your trash this month — they’re just making sure it’s in the right bin.
Recology recycling specialists will be checking garbage bins to make sure waste is being properly sorted through August.
Trash, recycling and compost bins will be randomly selected for an inspection before being picked up by trucks. Specialists will be lifting the lids of each bin, and if they find items misplaced, they will leave a green “OOPS!” sign to help residents and businesses improve their sorting. Garage, recycling and compost bins are being searched as part of an audit required by state Senate Bill 1383, which aims to reduce organic waste in landfills. The audit is made to improve the number of businesses and residents who separate their compost from their trash.
Compost could include food waste, yard waste and soiled paper products, according to Recology’s website. It’s common to see plastic bags, take-out containers, cardboard, glass and cans.
The bill was passed in September 2016 to fight climate change through composting.
Recology workers will be wearing yellow branded vests and identification. As they check garbage bins, they will be passing out flyers with more information.
Last year, 689 bins were checked, Assistant Public Works Director Adrian Lee said.
They are expecting to have a similar amount of compost bins to be checked this year.
Lee said specialists do not count how many bins are checked in a day.
The “OOPS!” sign that is left on bins informs those who use it of the correct order to have their bins, the time to set them out by and what they should be filled with.
Great, more rip off specialists from Recology .
They need to be investigated. In my city we see regular extra charges for “ overflow “ garbage when it barely reaches the rim, lazy entitled employees, it is nearly impossible to get credit when they miss a day.
IMO , their contract needs to be pulled. Where is the oversight for God sake?
I’m putting a live snake in my recycling to greet the Recology recycling police.
What garbage this is — sort of like what they strew on the street when they attempt to pick it up.
We protested this Big Brother action before but I guess lost again. Welcome to the era of Big Brother for which we get stuck paying.
The previous 3 posts were terribly ignorant; this is Recology, but a law passed by the State of California. Recology would in fact be in violation of their contract if they do not perform these checks. People can complain to their elected officials instead of posting dumb comments, or they could actually just use the correct cart.
I don’t believe there’s a mandated “correct order to have [our] bins”, at least not here in Recology San Mateo County. Published guidelines on the “Single-Family Household Service Guide”, under Cart Set-Out Guidelines, say only:
“• Set carts out by 6 a.m. on your collection day.
• Place carts curbside with wheels against the curb or roadside, with arrows on cart lids pointed toward the street.
• Leave two feet of space between each cart.
• Make sure lids are fully closed.
• Put carts away once serviced and/or within 24 hours to avoid a possible fine per Municipal Code requirements of your community.”
In other words, bin order doesn’t matter.
Also great service here in Palo Alto
How do they know if someone else dumps garbage into the blue or green bin?
How will they know if someone else dumps garbage into your blue or green bin? They are just sitting out on the street waiting for pick up and open to anybody.
Please post CURRENT guidelines for each bin color. In the past, it seems as though the requirements change frequently. Thx.