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Garbage bins an eyesore
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Posted by caroline Fri Feb 11, 2005 14:21:00 PST
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0 responses 0 comments Several years ago (and I don't remember when) the waste hauling company that provides the brown and green waste bins in the Northwest provided homeowners (or renters) with a letter advising people of the new policy, i.e. paper waste, kitchen waste, etc. in the brown bin and garden waste in the green bin.

The letter also said that the garbage bins were to remain out of sight of the street, either in the garage or behind the backyard gate.

Apparently people either didn't read the letter, forgot it, or don't care! I don't have time but I wish someone would try to get their hands on that letter and ask the waste company who, if anyone, can enforce the guidelines.

Looking around otherwise very nice neighborhoods and seeing garbage bins sitting in the driveway or still on the sidewalk until the next pickup does not contribute to the aesthetics of a neighborhood.

Editor's note: The Voice contacted City Solid Waste Supervisor John Wilburn for more information on the subject. He said the letter Caroline is referring to sounds like an advisory notice the city sends out when many complaints have been waged about trash in bins accumulating and becoming unsightly. This, said Wilburn, can lead to health issues and attract vermin. He noted, however, that in his 12 years with the city only about a half-dozen such notices have been sent out.
Wilburn, who lives off Renfro and Palm, recommends putting your bin out only on the day of collection. Most homes in the area are served by Varner Bros. Inc. Wilbrun puts his bin out the night before and puts it back before he goes to work at 8 a.m.
"We run into more problems when the bins are left curbside for long periods of time," said Wilburn, noting that residents should maintain an orderly appearance in the neighborhood and respect the municipal code ordinance by removing their bins from the curb area. "It's more of a pride of ownership thing. We don't really police where bins are put beyond that," he said.
If you're still concerned about visible bins, Wilburn recommends researching your escrow papers to see if there are any rules involving trash bins that you may have overlooked. He added that many CC&R's and other internal covenants often have stricter rules than the city.

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