Higher Rates Requested for Refuse
By T.J. Wait
San Francisco is not meeting state-mandated recycling goals, which means San Francisco residents may have to pay more for trash removal.
According to state law, California cities must recycle at least half of their trash. Currently, San Francisco recycles only 42 percent of its waste stream.
Paul Giusti, operations manager at Sunset Scavenger, says San Francisco could face fines of up to $10,000 a day if it does not change its ways.
"By the year 2000 San Francisco was supposed to have a 50 percent (waste) diversion rate, but that hasn't happened. We haven't been fined yet because the City has been showing a good-faith effort to improve. Better results will prevent the fines," Giusti explained.
In order to solve the problem, representatives from San Francisco, Sunset Scavenger and Golden Gate Disposal and Recycling came up with a new waste-collection program dubbed "Fantastic 3."
Under the plan, all city residents will get three containers one can for garbage (black), one for all recyclables (blue) and one for organic material (green).
Giusti says that the easy-to-understand colored-bin system will make it easier for everyone in the City to recycle. He claims that since Fantastic 3 began in parts of the Richmond District in of 2000, recycling has increased by 20 percent in those areas.
San Francisco officials have not reached a pricing agreement with Sunset Scavenger and Golden Gate Disposal and Recycling, but both companies are pushing for a residential increase of about $7 a month on a typical $11 bill. Businesses may have to absorb a 49 percent hike in trash collecting fees.
Fantastic 3 could take up to four years to fully implement, but the new rates may be imposed long before the program reaches all neighborhoods.
Giusti says San Francisco's trash collection rates are still lower than most Bay Area cities.
"Eventually everyone will benefit from the program. But it will take time. And yes, people will pay for service before they get it. Even then, San Francisco will be paying similar of trash collection fees in the Bay Area."
San Franciscans will still pay based on trash volume, but all residents can request different bin sizes based on specific needs.
The blue and green containers will not be required, but everyone will have to use the new black trash receptacles. Giusti explained that worker safety is one of the main reasons for making the new cans a necessity.
"The new bins are a standard size and shape so that our people will be able to use a mechanical arm built into the new trucks that will lift and dump the trash," he said.
District 1 Supervisor Jake McGoldrick believes the new program will help San Francisco reach its recycling goal, but says the increased costs have to be carefully scrutinized.
"The recycling program is a great idea. The question is about the garbage rates and whether they're justified. I think the rate increases need to be subject of careful scrutiny. The devil is in the details."
Giusti says the extra cash will cover the purchase of 150 new natural-gas-powered trucks and the construction of an on-site natural gas fuel pumping station for the vehicles. The money would also be used for staff increases and the creation of new recycling plants.