Everything from furniture to clothes to garden clippings was put on Holly Drive for the 2008 spring trash pickup. Press file photo
Money to pay for the extra rubbish pickup comes from trash collection fees, but Kevin Tobeck, director of public works, said the city gets less money from fees each year because of foreclosures and the lack of construction. Fewer people in homes means fewer collection bills, Tobeck said.
Tracy budget officer Allan Borwick said the city received about $706,000 less from solid waste pickups in the most recent fiscal year than the previous year. Most of that, he said, could be chalked up to foreclosures.
“It’s currently a reflection of the economy and the restraints we have on our solid waste fund,” Tobeck said. “By next year, we’d be running a deficit, and we certainly want to try and avoid that.”
Tobeck said public works decided about three months ago to cut the cleanup, during which Tracy residents could leave larger items, such as TVs and refrigerators or yard trimmings, on the curb. He said city employees will make a decision later about the fall cleanup, based on how the budget looks at that time.
Tobeck described the move as a way to save some money without disrupting weekly collection.
The department is still spending a bit more than it’s taking in, Borwick said. Even after taking out the spring cleanup, the solid waste budget falls short by about $800,000, he said. Tobeck said that last year, the city spent $72,920 on spring cleanup.
“We’ll keep our fingers crossed, but for right now, we’re holding off,” he said.
Tobeck also noted that people would sometimes abuse the system by leaving more than the posted limit — the equivalent of 10 32-gallon trash bags — on their curb. Borwick said the city reimburses Tracy Delta Disposal based on the tonnage their trucks collect.
Tobeck added that city workers have seen scavengers walking around and taking things people have left on the curb. He has also seen people from out of town dumping their trash on city streets on cleanup days.
“Some people will be frustrated that they can’t put some of their solid waste out,” Tobeck said. “They’ll have to do something else, or they’ll have to hold onto it and see if we can do something in the fall.”
Public works management analyst Jennifer Cariglio said her employees have already heard some complaints from people who have called to ask about the cleanup.
“They are disappointed, because instead of it being a cost to the city, now they have to pay for it,” Cariglio said.
Tobeck maintained that discards can still be taken to the local Material Recovery Facility, 30703 MacArthur Drive, for a fee. He added that other disposal days, such as those for electronic waste and packing foam, should probably still be in place.
I have no problem with people gathering up my throw aways to recycle/reuse as long as they don't leave a mess.
I wonder if there is a way where those who want this service would be willing to pay an extra $5.00? I know I would be happy to do so. A whole lot cheaper and easier than renting/borrowing a truck, gas and a trip to the dump.
As mentioned already, no doubt our monthly garbage fees will not be lowered even though our service has been reduced.
"Who's running this city anyway?"
Different article, different subject, same nagging question!
If we keep asking, m a y b e , we'll finally get an answer. (Not holding my breath)
That being said, since there will be a slight reduction in the operating costs of Delta Disposal Service (the foreclosure thing is BS, sorry), will we the God-fearing bill payers of tracy see a reduction in our collection rates? I'm betting not.
As I also said, I don't care. If someone finds a use for my trash either for personal use or to sell then be my guest. I just don't like it when they leave a mess for me to clean up, and when many items end up in the streets where it can be a traffic hazard for me and others, and could cause tire damage. After they get done with a neighborhood, sometimes but not always it can be like driving a obstacle course.
Have a great Easter Sneaky, and to the many of you. :o)
Its funny how the administrative types always whine about how they are losing money because they now get money from fewer homes due to all the foreclosures. Umm, don't you also have fewer homes to collect trash from? It seems to me that should make up for the loss, assuming you do some appropriate head count reductions.
The comment about scavengers taking the trash is kind of funny. He didnt go anywhere with it. What is the point? Is this some kind of problem? I cant imagine its illegal to take garbage left on the street. Not to mention that if someone else can get more use out of some of the items, then great. It saves some space in the dump and reduces waste.
Most garbage collection contracts are multi-year, so prices were negotiated when the economy was up. Now that it isn't, Tracy and many other cities have to increase rates OR cut service OR both. Cutting the curbside clean-up program is just that-- a service cut. In the past the return on recyclables has offset expenses, but for now the bottom has fallen out of that market. Cardboard was once shipped overseas to China for packaging the products they manufacture. The US and other countries aren't buying due to poor economic conditions, so there's no need for China to buy our cardboard to use as packaging. It's a vicious cycle that results in pallets of used cardboard sitting on docks hoping for someone to buy them. Even aluminum and plastics are not paying as much as in the past. And, there are more individuals recycling than before to help defray personal expenses, so the City isn't getting that return.
Anger and frustration are expected given how badly Leon and his "minions" and the Council have responded to Tracy's budget problems so far, but garbage fees and the Solid Waste budget/expenses ARE being negatively impacted by our current economy (including foreclosures) more than mismanagement or poor decisions.
Kevin how dare you blame this on Foreclosures!!!
Unless you’re Stupid.
“The city of Tracy still charges for water and Waste disposal service to families that have been foreclosed upon up and until the Foreclosed home Title changes hands back to the Mortgage Holder or the Home is sold to another party then the responsibility falls on the new property owner. “
Kevin what are you Hiding
Kevin come out and say where the funds have actually gone to. or is it that you are A Chicken SH*% to say the money has gone to additional Bonuses for the City of Tracy’s Managers Or another” BIG DOG”.
As for sofie48's comment about collecting just the houses where people live. It doesn't make a difference in operating costs unless an entire subdivision were vacant. Tracy Disposal personnel and equipment drive down a street and only collect those toters placed curbside. My next door neighbor doesn't always put out all their toters, but that truck and those workers still drive past to the next house, so the operating costs don't change because one or two or even 10 houses in a subdivision are vacant. There might be a little less garbage for processing at the end of the line, but again, the equipment must process the garbage from houses with residents, thus keeping the operating costs the same.
Tracyschooldist, the amount paid at the Material Recovery Facility (dump) is minimal and will be offset by the "midnight dumping" done by folks who refuse to pay the disposal fee. Even with the City's curbside clean-up in place, there were "stray" items that shouldn't have been put out during the curbside clean-up hanging around for weeks. Then finally City personnel were called to pick them up, thus costing more $$$$. If everyone with items to discard did the right thing and brought them to the MRF, it might make a difference, but that's not going to happen, I guarantee it! (No, not a pessimist, just worked in city solid waste and recycling for 3 years and in maintenance operations for 15!)