Annapolis Rolls Out Trash Education Campaign
Three informational mailers will be sent to residents this summer to help them prepare for major changes to trash and waste removal starting Sept. 1.
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Annapolis officials have created a three-part information campaign aimed at educating residents about the privatization of its solid waste removal services.
Solid waste disposal, which includes trash and leaf pickup, will be turned over to Bates Trucking and Trash Removal Sept 1. The conversion was passed as part of the city’s budget for fiscal year 2013.
City Public Information Officer Rhonda Wardlaw said Annapolis launched a three-phase campaign that started the week of July 4 with mailers on current city code.
Wardlaw said the yellow postcards "basically tell you what to put out on the curb."
The cards regurgitate Annapolis City Code regarding trash pickup, which will remain the same even when Bates starts. Some of those changes include: reducing trash pickup to once a week, the suspension of leaf blowing and bulk trash pickup on demand.
The second set of mailers, expected to go out later this summer, will cover what to expect and who to call starting Sept. 1. The third mailer will ask for comments or concerns that still have not been addressed.
City Council seemed surprised by the mailers.
"Have they already gone out? Because we haven’t seen them," said Alderwoman Shelia Finlayson (D-4th Ward).
Twelve people responded to Annapolis Patch's question about the mailers on its Facebook fan page saying they have not received a postcard.
Finlayson recommended the city consider making robocalls for phases two and three.
"They are cheaper than a mailer; they’re more personal, and people pay attention," she said.
Alderwoman Classie Hoyle (D-3rd Ward) said she is concerned about the overall education campaign on these new procedures.
"I can imagine what it is going to be like Sept. 1," Hoyle said.
Several other council members chimed in, and said they have fielded a wide range of questions from constituents about changes to city trash services.
Wardlaw assured the council the city would be doing as much as it can to educate residents about the upcoming changes.
"I want to make sure all of you are comfortable with the information and how it will be presented," Mayor Josh Cohen said.
Have you received a yellow postcard in the mail?
Annapolis Rose
8:55 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Privatizing trash pickup means cutting our service in half. WHAT A RIP OFF.
Mike
12:55 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
EXACTLY Jenny. Thanks for standing up on this.
Further, what is happening to all the city's trash men and others on the payroll who won't be collecting the trash? Are they being laid off, such that we actually see the 11% "savings" on our total tax bill? And what's happening to the trucks, the buildings, etc? Are these being sold off to raise revenue, since they are not needed?
Or are all these people and all this stuff being kept? Meaning, there's no savings whatsoever to the taxpayer, just a big, hidden tax increase. We're hiring new trash men and paying the old trash men anyway. To do WHAT? And what are the odds that they are the best qualified people for their new positions, whatever those are? How come the public isn't getting to compete for any new jobs that the trash men will be getting, both in cost and in talent?
Will the former city employees, the trucks, the buildings, etc, be quietly kept on as a slush fund of city resources for various pet projects?
I bet they will be. The most obvious reason is we're not hearing any city employees yelling about being laid off. They would be LOUD if they were being laid off. They'd be screaming to the taxpayer "Hey, they're cutting your services in half and you're only getting an 11% savings!!"
Since we're not hearing that, we can be pretty sure they're not leaving the payroll. Which means a BIG tax increase of about $400/house just on this one issue alone.