MAILBAG - May 17, 2007

City officials should heed Joe Shaw’s call

Joe Shaw’s insightful Community Commentary (“Find a way to say ‘yes’ to continue downtown revival,” April 26) is exactly the kind of civic reasoning we need to solve problems and address needs in our city.

It is ironic that had Shaw been elected to the City Council in last year’s election, he would be in a good position to provide the leadership, commitment and creativity necessary to give this promotion a longer run.

This call to action by Shaw should be heeded by our city officials. It is time we demand more out of City Hall than just appeasing special interests and “staying within the box” on important issues and projects. It is time we become dynamic in our decision-making and find ways to perpetuate things that work to serve our community.

TIM GEDDES

Huntington Beach

Residents shouldn’t be asked to sort trash

I want to voice my displeasure over the “cleaner and more modern trash collection.”

Why should we be happy about having our trash disposal limited by the trash can “provided” to us (“Recycle bins are coming our way,” May 3)? Clearly, Rainbow Disposal will not collect anything in other than their “approved” containers. Why are residents being asked to do Rainbow’s job of sorting out recyclables? Isn’t that what Rainbow Disposal is paid to do by the recycling fee that we pay every month? At the very minimum, should we not demand the recycling fee be eliminated from our bills? If this new program will allow more recycling, then Rainbow can more than absorb the cost of sorting recyclables and make more money by the company’s ability to recycle more material. Or will the residents of Huntington Beach receive cash dividends on the increased recycling activity the program enables? Somehow, I think not.

I would prefer to have three dedicated trash cans. They can save the green and recyclable carts for someone else.

Huntington Beach is reducing our service, demanding that residents do “our part” by helping Rainbow do what the company is paid to do, with no reduction in fees.

MIKE GRUENTHAL

Huntington Beach

Recycling program is just a business move

While I will wait to see how this effects the environment, I believe that this move benefits Rainbow Disposal at the expense of the citizens of Huntington Beach.

I reviewed the articles in the Independent (“Recycle bins are coming our way,” May 3) and read the information provided via the Rainbow Disposal website. The only real benefit to me is that they have expanded the oversize pickup, and I suspect this increase in service won’t cost the company anything.

The claim that our rates won’t go up is laughable. The company gets less labor in picking up trash and completely eliminates sorting at its facility. This should result in a decrease in rates, but in exchange Rainbow gets new equipment.

On the other hand, I, as the consumer, get:

1. I have to sort my trash, which necessitates multiple containers inside my house that I don’t have room for.

2. I have to use the “limited” resource. Previously, I could put out as many trash cans and bags or boxes as I needed to. Now there are extra fees for additional trash cans.

3. I have to place the trash cans in a particular fashion that requires a great deal of curb space. In my neighborhood, where everyone parks on the street, I don’t see how this is going to work.

All of this “at no extra charge” to me. I am in favor of helping the environment, but don’t try to tell me that this service is a benefit to me.

The city may benefit (I don’t see any direct benefit in the form of money, etc., from the state but it may be there) and Rainbow Disposal will certainly benefit. I personally am disappointed. In your article, the chairman of Rainbow Disposal is quoted as saying, “This is a major environmental benefit for the citizens, a major environmental benefit for everybody.” But there isn’t a single concrete benefit listed for the citizens of Huntington Beach. This is a business move disguised as a benefit to the city, and rather poorly at that.

RUSSELL MARKUS

Huntington Beach