Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Residents Told To "Trash" Bins

BY JOHN MILLER

Some serious trash talk is going around Gurdon.

Residents have complained about getting customer service notices from the solid waste provider, stating problems in the pick up of the garbage.

The notices include such things as the bags being too heavy, being packed too tight or being too big, or being too light for the contents.

Residents are also notified about having yard waste, such as limbs, leaves and grass, bagged to be carried away.

However, most of the problem stems from residents being informed they must get rid of their permanent trash bins.

At the August meeting of the Gurdon City Council, the city entered into a three-year contract with A&M Equipment. The contract stipulated the cost of hauling the garbage would remain the same, but the trash bins had to be removed.

Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith said the council has been trying to get residents to remove their bins for years with no success.

The city had police officers hand deliver letters to those who have the bins in front of their homes asking them to remove them.

These bins, Smith said, are unsightly, unsavory, unsanitary and unsafe. Many are made with old pallets nailed together and covered with chicken wire.

In many instances, the bags catch and tear, spilling garbage onto the ground.

Some of the bins are too high and the sanitation workers are forced to bend over and lift the garbage out using only their backs, thereby risking injury.

Under the new contract, the sanitation workers will not remove any garbage bags from bins or other permanent containers.

However, for those who can prove they are handicapped and physically unable to carry trash out to the curb, exceptions will be made. But, they will have to use portable containers, with these being removed once the garbage has been picked up.

As far as the permanent containers go, Smith said, no exceptions will be made.

In addition, there is a five bag limit for households, with the garbage bags not to exceed more than 40 pounds each. This amounts to 200 pounds of trash per home per week.

The bag limit, Smith said, was originally imposed because some were abusing the system and garbage was being brought into the city from other places.

The weight limit had to be put on because there were those who stuffed their garbage bags to the breaking point. Also, the weight limit helps prevent injuries to those picking the trash up.

"The permanent containers must go," Smith said. "These bins are ugly and unsanitary."

Gurdon will have its semi-annual city-wide trash pickup program Sept. 20-27. Smith said those who have permanent containers for their trash can call the city and get rid of them during this time.

Meanwhile, those with questions concerning the customer service slips can call city hall.