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Council Watch
Neighbors talk trash following Dumpster Day cleanup
Residents and local businesses clean up the Glen, but still struggle with yard waste
By Mary Spicuzza
Willow Glen folks have never been so talkative about trash. On Saturday, May 1, Glenites celebrated the area's first Dumpster Day, a day devoted to cleaning up garbage around the Glen. The event was a tremendous success, as neighbors volunteered their time to dump garbage, paint curbs and get rid of even the most gigantic and hard-to-dump trash.
But Cindi Gil-Blanco, code enforcement inspector for the city of San Jose, says that only a week after the event, Willow Glen is still suffering from improperly disposed-of waste. Specifically, yard waste that has been blown through neighborhood streets, clogging sewers and blocking storm drains.
"Yard waste is horrible right now," Gil-Blanco reports. "I sent out so many letters this week to areas where we've received complaints."
After nearly 900 flyers went out to local property owners last month, countless neighbors pitched in to volunteer for Willow Glen's first Dumpster Day. Co-sponsored by Vice Mayor Frank Fiscalini's office and the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association, the event brought residents together to clean up the area. Code inspector Thom Chivers reports that 20 dumpsters were filled, some with the most hard-to-dispose of trash like refrigerators, freezers, tires, and chairs.
More than 30 volunteers showed up to take charge of the dumpsters, and assisted residents in everything from dumping garbage to painting curbs and planting flowers. In addition to neighborhood participation, local businesses played a big part in making the event a success.
"Local businesses played a huge part in the clean-up," Michelle McGurk, Fiscalini's chief of staff says. "Their donations helped make it a very successful event."
Julianne's Bakery and Manhattan Bagels both provided baked goods, Willow Glen Coffee Roasting Co. fueled busy participants with free coffee. Safeway, Cash and Carry United, and Durham Meat Company contributed BBQ goods, which were prepared by BBQ gourmets Frank Fiscalini, Chief of Staff Michelle McGurk and her new husband, Charles Barry.
Although the neighborhood clean-ups began in the late 1980s, the early events were limited to areas with the most litter, graffiti and drifting garbage. Former mayor Susan Hammer launched a Spring Clean-Up Program, which entitled each council office to initiate three cleanups.
"It was really a big production," Helen Solinski, board member of the WGNA and avid anti-litter advocate, says. Solinski spent the day painting curbs while she sent her fiancé to pick up broken refrigerators. On average, each dumpster day produces about 15 refrigerators and freezers. And large amounts of yard waste.
Although several bins were filled with yard waste on Dumpster Day, apparently many folks didn't take advantage of the garbage free-for-all. Gil-Blanco says that letters warning problem areas about improper disposal of yard waste are being sent out this week before any fines are issued.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
