Letter: Once-a-week pickup has too many f laws

Sunday, July 9, 2006 | 7:39 a.m.

Regarding Scot Rutledge's July 7 letter, "Many advantages to recycling's pilot program":

Having spent several years in the recycling paradise of Santa Barbara County, I qualify myself as experienced in the downside for the customer of once-a-week trash and recycling pickup. Our conversion from a multiple container to single stream was an unqualified financial success for the refuse company.

We were directed to place the recycling containers out only when full. Seldom does one accumulate sufficient recycling material to justify once-a-week collection. The advertised once-a-week pickup turned into a twice-a-month or less reality. That sounds like where we are now.

Our free standardized trash container "with lid" worked well until the trash exceeded capacity. That's when the informal neighborhood trash distribution process started. "Excuse me sir, could I borrow your unused trash container space this week?" As a side note, it should be mentioned that lids only prevent trash flying when they are closed. Everything becomes recyclable when the trash container is full.

Even with Santa Barbara's moderate weather, it was very easy to detect the ripe trash containers as pickup day approached. Because a system works in Phoenix does not make it better for the customers (us). Creating havoc for the consumer's primary need (trash collection) to improve efficiency for the special interest (recycling) does not make sense. Paying the same money for a lot less service is not efficiency, it's stupidity. Oh, I forgot, it's a government-administered program.

John Fitzpatrick, Las Vegas

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