CHALLENGE TO RECOLOGY RATE INCREASE

Why does Pacifica pay one of the highest rates for garbage collection in San Mateo County?

 

The City of San Bruno proposed a 1.62 percent rate increase from Recology in 2020. See report link below.

 

Pacifica's proposed increase this year is 5.51 percent. Pacifica, according to the City of San Bruno report, pays the third-highest rate in the surveyed county cities for a 32-gallon cart.

 

Pacifica's solid-waste contract has never been put out to competitive bidding.

 

I think the result is self-evident.

 

Lionel Emde

San Bruno report

Comments

[Carl May]

What portions of the plastics, paper, and other materials picked up for recycling are actually recycled?

[Lionel Emde]

"A closer look at comparative costs may be in order, but...;"

Indeed, this might be a good thing, but Pacifica's City Council has studiously avoided it.

If the question was asked: "Do you think Recology does a good job in Pacifica?" or "Is staff helpful in answering questions?" then I would be the first person to answer yes.

But that's not and never has been the question. Why do we pay so much more than other San Mateo County communities for garbage collection?

Other cities have hills, trees, etc., and they have councils that might question the waste haulers more than Pacifica's council does. Is that the difference? We may never know.

[Tom Edminster]

Not "self-evident."
& I'm no booster for Recology (nice staff, but union buster).
"Solid waste" includes 3 crude streams: *
* greenwaste/compost (industrial...not really "good shit..." )
* Garbage (pure landfill...lots of yuck a rational society would not tolerate)
* Recyclables...(glass, cans, plastics, paper, cardboard)...
...Recology also operates a local yard that:
1. Takes other recyclables...operations costs &
2. Is safe parking for trucks.
& the additional garage & main office.

San Bruno is flat & easier patterned pickup
...easier wear & tear on trucks. Easier to redirect to Recology & feeder streams for disposal & sorting & recovery of what little $ is made in disposal/redirection...(compost & recycling...)
Garbage: landfill left for future generations.

What probable "really existing companies exist which could have effective services & billing...& fulfill existing mandates...?

A closer look at comparative costs may be in order, but...;