Republic Services is blowing smoke

Nicholas P. Gartner, Henderson

Friday, Feb. 15, 2013 | 2 a.m.

This whole Republic Services controversy has not even addressed the most obvious problem: Has anybody noticed that the wind blows a lot in the Las Vegas Valley?

We have been part of the “experiment,” and I can assure everyone that every Monday our neighborhood is covered with newspapers, plastic bags and anything else that the wind takes off the top of the “automated” trucks. These trucks pick up the containers and dump them into the top of the vehicle. As the stuff falls out of the container, a good portion is swept away by the wind. Come out next Monday to our neighborhood and see for yourself.

Republic Services has a contract in place. They are changing the rules in the middle of the game. I was raised to believe that you play by the rules until it is proven that the other players are going to cheat, and then you follow suit, only worse.

I say, allow bidders to take over Republic Services’ contracts. Sell the lowest bidder all of Republic Services’ equipment at cost and send Republic Services down the road.

This should be done tomorrow, not after a certain period. The results are obvious right here in Henderson, right now. Stop with the namby-pamby political rhetoric and do what needs doing. Stop this obvious money grab and save the taxpayers for a change. What’s next will be Republic raising our rates to offset the cost of recycling. Last time I checked, they were not offering me anything to separate my garbage for them.