[OldNorth] Trash Pick-up & Alleys

[Bruce Winterhalder]

Old North Neighbors in the Bowers Addition (those of you on alleys):
             The following flyer will be distributed in printed form later 
this week, with a stamped & addressed survey card asking if you prefer to 
continue alley service with the new garbage carts or move to street pick-up 
service.  We have tried here to summarize the advantages and disadvantages 
of the two possibilities.  We were asked to do this survey after 
discussions with DWR about our options under the new trash pick-up system.
                         Bruce

Sunday, September 12, 2004
Trash & Recycling Pickup­The end of Alley Service?

Dear Old North Neighbor:
             You probably received the recent "Get Ready - Get Set" flyer 
from Davis Waste Removal (DWR), announcing a new system for trash and 
recycling pick-up.  The new system uses large, wheeled containers for both 
trash and recycling.  They are emptied mechanically, to reduce employee 
back injuries.
             The system works well in typical suburban residential 
neighborhoods where residents roll out their cans from their two-car 
garages and can block one lane of their two-lane driveway with the cans. 
However, in the northern half of Old North (between 6th and 7th Streets), 
where the streets have alleys and few houses have driveways, we have a 
special challenge.  The new pickup trucks with their mechanical arms on the 
side would have a hard time fitting down our back alleys in their current 
state, and so DWR has announced plans to discontinue alley pickup 
service.  The expectation is that residents would roll cans from wherever 
they are stored out through their front yards, and over the parking strip 
and curbs, placing them in the street for pickup.
             After discussions with DWR and some careful measurements of 
alleys, we have determined that it would be possible to continue alley 
service with the new carts and lift systems, but it will require


    * Neighborhood consent to tree-trimming to provide a clear path for the 
trucks and locations for the cans.  DWR has said it would prefer the full 
15' right-of-way width to be absolutely clear, but we believe they could 
make service work with a 12' clear path from end-to-end and wider areas 
where the cans would be placed for pickup.  This would leave essentially 
all of the small border gardens that some have planted along the alley 
edges, but would require clean-up where the alleys are narrowed.
    * Placing cans along one side of the alley only, (so that each trash 
truck and recycle truck would only have to traverse each alley once.

The City has asked we poll the neighborhood on its preferences.
             We have tried in the table below to summarize advantages and 
disadvantages of each option.  Please consider the situation and return the 
enclosed survey form, stating your preference.
             If you have questions, you can call DWR at 756-4646 
[www.dwrco.com], or Angela Willson (ONDNA, awillson at pacbell.net).

Alley Pick-up, Advantages:
             Continues current system; Clean streetscapes; Ease of access 
for carts located in backyards; Few conflicts with parking.
Alley Pick-up, Disadvantages:
              Trucks, puddles, ruts, noise; Very tight placement of cans 
along one side required for pick-up.
Forty or more carts mean more obstacles in alleys; Likely, some tree/shrub 
trimming in alleys.

Street Pick-up: Advantages:
             Easier for DWR personnel; Less mess and fewer obstacles in 
alleys; Fewer ruts & puddles in the alleys from heavy garbage trucks 
‘gunning’ to accelerate and slamming on the brakes; Less exacting placement 
of carts than required for alley.
Street Pick-up, Disadvantages:
             Conflicts with people trying to park; Difficulty of getting 
large, heavy carts to and from street & over curbs, given tradition of 
back-of-house storage; Unsightliness if carts are stored in front yard.
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