Garbage rate hike proposed for Napa

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Monday, June 02, 2008

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By KEVIN COURTNEY
Register Staff Writer

10 a.m.Rates charged by Napa Recycling and Waste Services would jump 3.45 percent on Sept. 1 if the City Council approves a staff recommendation Tuesday afternoon.

A rate increase, the first since January 2007, is needed to cover higher operating costs, including gasoline, tipping fees and the hiring of a code enforcement officer, said Kevin Miller, the city’s materials diversion administrator.

Napa Recycling and Waste Services would expand plastic recycling starting July 1 to include all plastics except for plastic bags and Styrofoam.

For the first time, customers would be able to toss yogurt and margarine tubs, five-gallon buckets, deli clamshells and plant pots into their recycling carts.

For city residential customers, the new monthly rates would be:

20-gallon carts, from $16.46 to $17.03;

35-gallon, from $20.63 to $21.34;

65-gallon, from $27.51 to $29.96,

95-gallon, from $48.68 to $50.36.

31 comment(s)

John Richards wrote on Jun 2, 2008 11:50 AM:

" A small increase seems reasonable.
Something ought to be done about the folks who only pay for the smallest garbage can, and then stuff their recycling bin full of garbage! "

GregN. wrote on Jun 2, 2008 11:54 AM:

" Why dont we cut Kevin Miller, the city’s materials diversion administrator job. he sounds expendible. Or I bet he has an assist who has an assist who could get the chopping block? "

hudds5 wrote on Jun 2, 2008 12:05 PM:

" Code enforcement officer? Ususally the cost of paying fines will cover the cost of this position. "

Common Sense wrote on Jun 2, 2008 12:58 PM:

" I would like to know why we need a Code Enforcement Officer. "

C5ned wrote on Jun 2, 2008 1:15 PM:

" Why Don't we put Garbage cans all one on side of the street. So the trucks don't have to drive down both side of the street. And make no parking on that side of the street for Trash days ONLY. I bet this would save a lot of money on Fuel for those garbage trucks and keep the air a little bit cleaner. "

irishman wrote on Jun 2, 2008 2:00 PM:

" people in napa are getting taken to the cleaners, ive been to alot of citys that will let you dump 4 tmes the trash for a fraction of the cost. and why do we need a code officer and how much does he get paid when its still and what does he do all day and what kind of staff does he have, we really need to know these facts before you grant an increase, and how can you ask for more money on a contract when its still intact, i cant go to my clients and ask for more money because i didnt think ahead, napa should say when this contract is up we will talk.............. "

vonhelga wrote on Jun 2, 2008 3:58 PM:

" I too, feel the rates are already a bit pricey. Perhaps we can stop people from stealing! from the blue toters that are already curbside and recycling revunue would increase. The price for EVERYTHING is going up people! quit whining and get over it. "

leavintown wrote on Jun 2, 2008 4:17 PM:

" Garbage is garbage to me. I thought the prices were too high in the first place. So I don't separate anything. Let them do it. I am all for penalties to people who don't use the cans for what they are intended for. But do the fines instead of the increases. Until then, I just fill up one can with whatever, and then go to the next. "

recyclethis wrote on Jun 2, 2008 4:29 PM:

" It is not the company asking for an increase it is the City of Napa! "

recyclethis wrote on Jun 2, 2008 4:44 PM:

" Code enforcement officer is a City of Napa position "

Dwayne wrote on Jun 2, 2008 4:54 PM:

" If the code enforcement officer is looking through my trash to find those two AA batteries I threw away, I hope he's had his shots. "

napabrat wrote on Jun 2, 2008 6:05 PM:

" I believe Napa has extremely high garbage rates already when compared to surrounding locations. If there is an existing contract in place then I agree with irishman that we shouldn't make any changes until the contract is up.

Just what exactly is a code enforcement officer? Maybe this should be my new vocation? LOL "

Dirty Napkin wrote on Jun 2, 2008 6:21 PM:

" I know a guy who puts everything, and I do mean everything in his recycle can. I just laugh.. His take is that there is someone paid at the garbage plant to sort this junk, so why not keep his position open... I've seen him throw lawn mower engines, and all kinds of crud. I hope he has had his tetnas shot. "

Napanee wrote on Jun 2, 2008 7:01 PM:

" I am still waiting for the smaller recycling bin that they said we could get when this company took over. Many phone calls later and still no smaller bin. "

funnyme wrote on Jun 2, 2008 7:47 PM:

" I am still waiting for the reason why the recycling truck can't come through some streets to pick up the recycling but the garbage truck can...Go figure. "

Hear Ye wrote on Jun 2, 2008 7:52 PM:

" I don't really have a problem with the price. I do have a problem with their customer service though. I asked for a special pickup and paid 40 some bucks for it and they never showed up to pick up my trash. When I called multiple times to get my money back they refused and said as far as they knew it was picked up. There is really no recourse if they rip you off because they know you won't drop their service. "

kbf wrote on Jun 2, 2008 9:13 PM:

" The code enforcement officer will go around and try to catch the people who do steal from the blue toters. The city and garbage company lose a lot of money each year because of this. The guy that puts everything in his recycle can, it is ok just not garbage. We have single stream and that means anything that can be recycled can go into the blue toter. The hike in the rates is approved by the city council. If you want a smaller can and don't get satisfaction by calling Napa Recycling and Waste Services, call again and ask to speak to a supervisor.
John Richards, if these people get caught putting garbage in the blue toter they can have their service taken away. "

bearlee wrote on Jun 2, 2008 9:59 PM:

" I am all for expanding the materials we can recycle in Napa. If people would follow the rules published we would not need a "Code Enforcement Officer". The expanded service justifies the raised fee. "

skippert wrote on Jun 2, 2008 10:43 PM:

" This does not surprise me. What next? Water, cable. "

Paddy wrote on Jun 3, 2008 8:25 AM:

" I agree that we pay more, for less, than many other cities. I've come to accept the fact that, as a country, we leave a massive footprint when it comes to the amount of waste we generate. Having a large family I was inspired to recycle everything I possibly could and make sure I didn't generate more garbage then would fit in the smaller tote. The cost has motivated many to generate less garbage.

Our wonderful code enforcement officer is one of the most useful, under-appreciated, jobs in Napa. I called her once to investigate a company parking four of their trucks at a private residence on a residential street... Have you ever had 10 people (or more) living in a 2 bedroom residence? Illegal vendors selling products on your street?
These are just some of the things she can help you with. "

cathyodom wrote on Jun 3, 2008 8:44 AM:

" Remember the homeless guy living in a shed in a back yard, his mattress caught on fire and he died? Or the neighbor with 5 cars on his lawn? Or the family with 6 people living in the garage? That's what the code enforcement officer does. Right now there's just one person, and there are so many complaints out there in the whole city that one person can't tackle everything. Another person will help out a lot. "

cordell wrote on Jun 3, 2008 11:17 AM:

" I walk everywhere in this city and from what I see, most people use the 20 gallon or 35 gallon containers. That means your bill is going up $0.57 or $0.71 per month. Is this really a reason to get so upset, as many of the writers seem to be? I think the service is pretty good and I'll pay the increase without complaint. I'm sure the fuel costs are affecting them greatly. What I can't stand are the people stealing cans and bottles out of the recyling containers and the idiots who don't know or care which containers are the right ones to use. It really isn't that hard. If we all followed the rules, the costs probably would not have to go up. What can we do about the thieves? Does anybody know? "

musikluvr wrote on Jun 3, 2008 12:43 PM:

" A small increase is not ok. I think they should lower the rates. We've had huge increases in water rates, sewer rates are in the process of going up 50%. They want a tax increase just to fix roads. If Napa hadn't given away the store to the employee unions we wouldn't have these constant fee increases. The mayor and the city council members need to start explaining. "

napa wine guy wrote on Jun 3, 2008 2:30 PM:

" Whoa wait a second. I sat at a car wash on monday watching two Napa Garbage company SUV's go in for a $ 20.00 wash a piece. Raise my rates! Try cutting your carbon foot print alittle and wash your company truck yourself! "

overthehill wrote on Jun 4, 2008 1:34 AM:

" The City charges for four full time personnel already, plus financial staff time, etc, all are apparently involved in the waste stream. Not too long ago there were none.The Garbage Co. used to do this work for 20% of the costs. Now the City wants another full time person, for what? When I found that my aluminum cans are not receiving the deposit back from the State, I stopped giving the cans and give them to my neighbors kid. "

ADark1 wrote on Jun 4, 2008 2:25 AM:

" Cordell wrote ,
"What I can't stand are the people stealing cans and bottles out of the recyling containers ...."
Whoa buddy, there's an industry you're messing with, these guys and gals are at least trying the conservative self - employment route! Better that then being hit up at a mall, watching them wear white and begging for money eh?

BTW?, napa wineguy is correct! Don't they have hoses to wash the suv's? OR? can't we use the work release guys who do the law enforcement vehicles?
Raises glass to the napawineguy! "

misfit wrote on Jun 4, 2008 3:52 AM:

" This is the only place I have lived, where they don't do a curbside pick-up service 2 to 4 times a year as part of the service. This is where you can put anything out, old furniture, appliances, junk from the garage, tree limbs...whatever, and they come take it away. In Marin it's 4 times a year, Contra Costa Co, twice a year. I think they even do it up in Yountville. Anyway, that is an incredible service that we should be bargaining for during the next contract negotiation. There was no additional charge to residents for this. "

Bilmelatr wrote on Jun 4, 2008 9:30 AM:

" Easy musikluvr if it wasn't for unions you may have more thieves stealing your trash. We pay the same bills you do and possibly more taxes. Maybe if the price of gas didn't go up daily this would not be an issue. The increase seems reasonable to me. "

petebo wrote on Jun 4, 2008 10:40 AM:

" what a waste....ha ha. "

sickothis wrote on Jun 4, 2008 10:52 AM:

" Kevin Miller is an outstanding guy. Very smart, does his job very well. "

Word wrote on Jun 7, 2008 12:43 AM:

" I'm happy to pay the modest 70 cent increase so that I can recycle more items. Odd plastic containers make up a lot of my family's remaining trash now, so it's great to hear they'll be recycled. The added recycling will allow us to reduce our garbage to the point that we need only a 20-gallon trash container. That will cut my bill by almost 4 bucks. Employees at the City have recycled the old garbage service and given us environmentally superior ways to cut our trash. This is a much improved, remarkably different service than what we had just 15 years ago. I give Miller and the others a lot of credit. "

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