November 04, 2005

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Palo Alto Online

Convenient or klutzy?

by Kenneth Seli

When Gwen Luce first set eyes on the massive hard plastic containers that were part of Palo Alto's new recycling system, she did not know what to do with them.

These colossuses of crushed cans, creased paper and crumpled water bottles seemed to baffle the 12-year Barron Park resident upon arrival.

"At first I didn't like them because they were so huge and I couldn't comprehend that there were machines that could sort these out," Luce said.

After figuring out how these roomy recyclers worked, Luce said she has fallen in love with the convenience of the containers.

The size and bulk of the three containers -- one for single-stream recycling, one for yard refuse and the last for weekly trash -- were daunting at first. But, Luce said maneuverability and ease of taking the cans out to the curb is no longer an issue.

"I can usually pull two containers at a time down the driveway," said Luce, a single woman in her fifties. "I prefer that process than carrying the open plastic containers."

The practice of using one recycling container to house all recyclables before processing, known as single-stream recycling, is nothing new, said Monica Devincenzi, the community relations manager for the Palo Alto Sanitation Company.

"There was a pilot done on single stream two and a half years ago and they were very enthusiastic with them," she said.

Since then, the single-stream revolution has blanketed other cities, replacing the traditional separate bins with one large covered can.

Brian King, a resident homemaker who has lived in Palo Alto for 10 years, said he has to work much less because of the new system.

"I had to take it out and sort it," King said about his family's recyclables. "Now I just take it out and dump it."

One of the issues that comes up with the bins is where to store them during the week.

Luce said it is easy for her to keep her containers out of plain view with a little careful planning.

"On the side of my house I have a large container I used to put two garbage cans in, and now I put the black garbage container in there all week long hidden from view," she said. "Across from that I have bushes big enough to put the blue [single-stream recycling one]."

Luce said she talked to her neighbor so that she could keep her green gardening container on the side of his house.

King said it was convenient for him to keep the wheeled container hidden toward the back of his garage, just a few steps from his front door.

He also said it is very convenient to roll his cans down to the curb for pickup.

"We have a path separate from the driveway," he said. "We bring it down the path and behind the garage."

Devincenzi said the containers can be reordered to tailor the convenience of the user in 32-, 64- and 96-gallon sizes.

She also said there is assistance available for physically limited and disabled people who cannot wheel the containers from their storage places to the curb.

Another aspect that has peaked the interest of many residents is the increased fuel efficiency of the new disposal vehicles. Devincenzi said the new truck fleet runs on compressed natural gas that is healthier for the atmosphere.

"[The new trucks] do not run on diesel, so they cut down on emissions," she added.

But, not all Palo Altans are pleased with the invasion of the new rummage rollers.

Christy Neidig, an Old Palo Alto resident, has viewed the new containers with displeasure on her drives through the city.

"This place looks like a slum now," said Neidig about her daily commute through Middlefield. "We called the city to get them out of here. There're some people who never move their cans from the boulevard. I don't think that's what they intended."

Neidig, who admits that single-stream recycling is more fit for commercial outfits rather than residential ones, said her neighbors are still figuring out how to work with the big containers.

"I called a couple of neighbors and they're not sure," she said. "Some of them are mystified by them."

Devincenzi said the best thing to do is to call the sanitation company with questions, comments and concerns.

"Our customer service representatives are trained in the questions [consumers] would be asking," she said.

To order the recycling containers in different sizes or to ask a sanitation representative questions regarding the new system, the Palo Alto Sanitation Company customer service line can be reached at (650) 493-4894.

Editorial intern Kenneth Seli can be reached at kseli@paweekly.com.

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