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City Beat
City staff considers alternative recycling programs
Businesses will get chance to bid on collecting refuse
By Chantal Lamers
Members of the San Jose City Council finally came to an agreement on April 4, about a smelly issue that's been fermenting in meetings: garbage.
Over the past few weeks, council members have been discussing the Recycle Plus program (garbage and recycling collecting agencies, and their contracts). San Jose contracts with three different companies to empty cans and recycling bins. Since those contracts are coming to an end in 2002, the council is putting up a help wanted sign to give other businesses a chance to bid on collecting San Jose's garbage.
Michelle McGurk, chief of staff for Vice Mayor Frank Fiscalini, said the competitive process allows the city staff to "comparison shop" for the best garbage-collecting deal around town.
However, McGurk said the city wants to make the 2002 transition seamless for San Jose residents. "It's a complicated but very basic service the city provides," she said.
Mayor Ron Gonzales, backed by a unanimous vote from fellow council members, said all the council's concerns seem to be addressed by the new RFP (Request for Proposals}.
Environmental Services staff decided that in order to make the RFP process fair for contractors, convenient for residents and competitive for council they would establish some guidelines.
These guidelines include conducting community meetings with residents for comments on the present program and suggested areas for improvement; and meeting with all current service providers--garbage, recycling and yard trimming collection--to discuss changes and improvements to the current system.
Furthermore, staff will consider three criteria when evaluating companies to get the job done: ability to perform the service; customer service; and cost.
Council made other requests to the ESD, too. San Jose is divided into three garbage collecting service areas. ESD staff had discussed revamping those districts but at the request of council decided against those changes.
McGurk said when 2002 rolls around, some new approaches to garbage and recycling could be initiated. Some of these methods include a 32-gallon garbage container (an option for families that are good recyclers). Another possibility is including a container for yard waste to help reduce wear and tear of streets and keep yard waste from clogging gutters during rainy seasons. Residents could also receive a wheeled container for recyclables, instead of three different bins for reusable materials.
The Recycle Plus! program was established in residents' garbage collection in 1993. Serving more than 268,000 households throughout the city, the program is one of the largest in the nation.
Council members are expected to approve final contracts in Fall 2000. New garbage and recycling services will kick in for San Joseans in July 2002.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
