Trash Pick-up cont...

 

With that said, it is true that several reports have come from Waste Management service. It's official report is located here: http://newmexico.wm.com/riorancho/index.html However, this declaration is not helping us. Because this company is not equipped to collect trash but by any other method than using their 25 ton collection trucks, we're in trouble. It might take weeks for snow and ice to melt on some roads, and their inability to service customers under bad weather conditions is worrisome. When I was younger, trash collectors walked up the side of your property to a metal can that weighed almost as much as the garbage in it, carried it to the street, and emptied it into their truck - returning the can afterward. Today, if they can't drive their automatic arm up to the plastic "container" that YOU pushed to the street, you're out of luck.

Waste Management service is contracted out, and the City has the power, and the right, to demand service; but have they? The question here is why the Mayor has no plan in effect when city services such as trash pick-up fail. A simple solution would be to dispatch waste management trucks to areas where they can travel, and then disperse smaller trucks that can traverse steep hills and other roads that are covered with ice and snow to "ferry" the truck loads of trash to the larger trucks. It's clear that some solution must be put in place quickly, because not picking up the trash and telling the citizens to wait is simply not a solution. Has the city taken the necessary steps to resume trash pick-up in areas that are cut off? Ultimately, trash collection is the city's responsibility. How long before the citizens start to deliver their trash to the front steps of city hall, where the trash pick-up crews have been picking up trash since the storm hit? One thing is certain - if any plan is to work, especially the Mayor's 311-type plan, simple basic services need to work for anyone to take it seriously. We applaud the Mayor for his efforts, but now it's time for him to turn to the city's infrastructure services and start asking some hard questions.

Just as a matter of note: we called the Mayor's office and were told that in fact the waste management service is contracted out. The nice lady at the Mayor's office took our name and number for a call back from Waste Management.

We got the call back... and we were told that they are working on a solution. Their number is 892-1200 if you have any questions.