The Morning Report
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To Sandra who wrote:
Joan, Just to be clear, is that free trash collection to most single family homes. Most condos, apartments, businesses and some single family homes pay to have their trash hauled away.
And Tigershark who wrote:
It’s time to repeal People’s Ordinance of 1919. $55 million a year would be a welcome addition to the general budget. As a Downtown condo owner, I pay for trash and recycle pickup and I pay through my property taxes for the trash removal for those fortunate enough to have their trash removed without paying.
The People’s Ordinance of 1919 mandates free residential trash collection in the public right away (city dedicated streets).
Until 1986, owners of condos or apartments requesting city trash collection on private streets were allowed to sign a “hold harmless” agreement to allow our workers to take their containers. This meant the city was not held liable for such things as damage to private streets due to the heavy trash trucks passing through.
But in 1986 the voters passed Prop C which did not allow for any more “hold harmless” agreements. The Yes on C vote was a plus for private trash companies who were able to profit by taking over collection at the post-1986 properties.
Prop C built on a previous voter-approved proposition (Prop F) that was largely unenforceable, but limited free city service to businesses to six (manual) containers.
Today the city will pick up two automated containers for free from businesses. (Two auto containers are the equivalent of six manual containers.)
The city will also collect trash from condos or apartments on private streets, if the containers are transported by the private property owner to a nearby public street.