Tag Archives: Recycling & Waste Management

“Give-n-Go” E-Cycling

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Just a last minute reminder of this opportunity to clean house! Use this free event to dispose of your outdated electronic equipment properly & safely. Bring your old stuff to us and receive a charitable donation (tax!) receipt.

“Give-n-Go” E-Cycling (with FREE drop-off! )

Sept. 7, 10am-2pm

RWS Library, on the corner of Marine Pky & Bridge Pky

RSCA – collaborating with Goodwill Industries – will accept old computers (hard drives are 3X erased & shredded for security), monitors, routers, and other consumer electronics for recycling, and this includes TVs, stereos, telephones, cell phones/PDAs etc.

During this 4-hour event, there’s no charge to bring small appliances, kitchenware, men’s, women’s and children’s clothing & accessories, shoes, bed and bath linens, bicycles, jewelry, books, and more.
* CHECK THIS LINK for what we CAN accept…

and THIS LINK for what we can NOT accept !

Your Redwood Shores Community Association sponsors this annual recycling event in cooperation with our local Goodwill Industries. You can find more information about Goodwill programs at sfgoodwill.org.

Free Compost!

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Redwood City residents can now pick up free compost at the Shoreway Environmental Center at 333 Shoreway Road in San Carlos, courtesy of South Bay Recycling (Shoreway Transfer Station & Recycling Center).

Just go to the scale house through Gate 1, provide proof of residency (a utility bill or ID card), and you’ll be provided with up to two empty paper bags for the compost. Each bag holds about 3 cubic feet. From there, you’ll be directed to the Transfer Station to get the compost. It’s self-serve – you fill the bags yourself (they do provide shovels). There is a limit of two bags per visit, and it’s for residents only – not for commercial use.

Visit the South Bay Recycling website for hours of operation and other info. More information on these and other services is available at www.rethinkwaste.org .

Letter to the Editor

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(NOTE: This Letter to the Editor for the Pilot is about the Public Hearing/Council Meeting held on Monday January 9, 2012.)

 

City Council Hears Voices

Monday January 9th turned out to be a very special evening for residents of Redwood City. The City Council voted unanimously to reject the proposed Household Hazardous Waste program and its mandatory monthly fee. The result is that Redwood City residents will be paying a smaller monthly increase than originally proposed for their garbage pickup.

Rate increases for utilities are a sore subject for all residents and the proposed increases for garbage and recycling were no different. Although it is very difficult to understand the web that is Recology, South Bay Recycling and the South Bay Waste Management Authority and how they compute our garbage rates, it was clear from the start that the new service was doomed.

Officials from SBWMA could not provide data, from either studies or surveys, supporting the need or desire for the new Hazardous Waste program. According to historical data from similar programs implemented elsewhere the new program would have been paid for by all rate payers but only used by 5%. 100% paying for 5% in this economy is not acceptable as the Council heard from local residents speaking out at the Redwood City Council meeting on January 9th. In fact San Mateo County already has a program available for residents to take Household Hazardous Waste for free with an appointment. (See below)

Through letters, local newspaper articles, and petitions the City Council was made aware of resident’s discontent with this new monthly charge that surely would increase and never go away for years to come. Most importantly, the Council listened to the speakers at the Council meeting who expressed their concerns. It truly was a victory for Redwood City residents. Thank you City Council for “hearing the voices” of the folks who have to pay the bills!

— Matthew Reising, Redwood Shores Resident

To find a Household Hazardous Waste site and to make an appointment call 650-363-4718 or go to www.smhealth.org/hhw

A Message From Mayor Aguirre

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Dear Redwood City Residents:

I wanted to share with you some of my thoughts on the City Council’s decision-making process regarding the increase in garbage/recycling rates. As you may know, after a thoughtful discussion at our January 9, 2011 meeting, the City Council unanimously approved a rate increase of 7.2% . This increase is less than the 7.81% increase that was originally proposed. The lower increase resulted from the Council deciding not to implement a proposed new curbside household hazardous waste collection service (which would have added 0.61% to the increase).

For the majority of Redwood City households, which have the 32-gallon cart, this amounts to an additional $1.78 per month/per cart (for those with 20-gallon carts the increase is 75¢ per month/per cart). Corresponding increases are reflected in the rates for larger bins and for commercial customers. More detailed information is available online at www.redwoodcity.org/garbagerates .

It’s important to remind you that all revenues from this rate increase are used only to provide garbage service to the community.

This was a difficult decision, especially in light of the 85 official protest letters we received, and knowing that this increase is of some level of concern to everyone in the community. During the Council’s discussion on the rate increase, we directed staff to update rate projections for future years and also asked that an analysis be done of the current rate methodology. We want to make sure that the most equitable and fair approach is in place, in order to ensure predictability and certainty in future rates for the community.

Thank you for your understanding, and please be assured that I and my colleagues on the Council appreciate your concerns with rate increases, and their impact on households during these difficult economic times. I encourage you to become involved in issues like this which are of concern to you — your involvement in important City matters is of great value to the entire community. You can keep up to date on City activities and issues through our website, or via this email list.

Sincerely,
— Alicia Aguirre, Mayor