<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<meta content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" http-equiv="Content-Type">
<title></title>
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000">
<h3><b>There is hope of getting smaller trash toters...</b></h3>
<br>
I went to the town meeting Monday (8/4/08) and asked about<br>
getting smaller trash toters. I spoke both privately to the department <br>
head and publicly to the council. Mary Donaldson also spoke about<br>
the problem. I did not get a positive response. But there is still
hope...<br>
<br>
Today (Thr 8/7), I called Bates and asked about smaller totes.<br>
<b>They do have smaller ones. </b>He will check with his superiors <br>
and get back to me. I will let you know what happens.<br>
<br>
Certainly some people can make good use of the giant 96-gallon<br>
size, but many of us would be better served with a smaller 64-<br>
gallon size (which is the size of the recycle bin toter). <br>
<br>
Having a choice would be best. <b>If you would prefer a smaller toter,
<br>
I urge you to let the mayor and your council member know. <br>
Also let CM Lingua know as he is chair of Public Works. <br>
</b>It can be done. It may take some political will.<br>
<br>
<b>Use Our Old Cans? </b><br>
I may keep using my old trash can (which also has wheels) but <br>
it helps the collection if we all use toters with uniform handling<br>
characteristics with attached lids that cannot blow away and<br>
with toters that are designed to work with the truck's lifts.<br>
<br>
<b>My Specific Problems with the Giant Toter are...</b><br>
<br>
They are difficult to clean. I can't reach the bottom of the<br>
huge toter to remove a bag of trash that was left stuck in my<br>
toter this week. I thought about trying to turn it over and<br>
spraying it with a hose, but the toter is bigger than I want to<br>
wrestle. Sooner or later this will be a problem for everyone.<br>
<br>
It is too big to get around our van in the driveway. And leaving<br>
it in front is both illegal and ugly.<br>
<br>
Finally, a smaller one would just plain be easier to haul to the<br>
curb. I feel for those who must get them up and down stairs!<br>
<br>
It is a little disappointing that this was not thought out better. <br>
Its not like this has not happened before. When the recycle <br>
toters were distributed, some people voiced a concern that <br>
they were too big, and Hyattsville had to swap out many of<br>
their giant toters for smaller ones when they issued toters a<br>
year or two ago. Unfortunately we did not learn from these<br>
experiences. But hopefully, it will be set right soon.<br>
<br>
So far, I have been pleased with the Bates service and applaud <br>
the mayor and council for trying it. If we can get the tote size <br>
right, then I think I will be very happy with the new trash service.<br>
<br>
-Rob<br>
<br>
[end]<br>
<br>
</body>
</html>