New garbage hauler gets high marks

Green Waste Recovery says Petalumans already recycling more

February 8, 2006

By COREY YOUNG
ARGUS-COURIER STAFF

Yard trimmings are collected weekly and recycling no longer has to be sorted -- but the new garbage trucks are especially drawing rave reviews in Petaluma.

Since garbage hauler Green Waste Recovery took over Jan. 1 with a fleet of all-new vehicles, the quiet on pick-up day is being noticed and appreciated.

"They dump the cans without revving their engine one RPM above an idle," said Petaluma resident Richard Valentine. "Now I sleep past 6 a.m. on those pick-up days."

Petaluman Mike Zenone agrees.

"I love the newer trucks," he said. "They are quieter than those of Empire Waste and it seems the drivers are not as throttle happy."

Michael Gross, Green Waste manager, said the company's fuel-efficient, low-emission trucks are working perfectly -- maybe too well.

"One of the first problems we had in the first few weeks was people didn't put out their garbage because they didn't hear us," he said. "They called and said, 'You didn't come by!' and we said, 'Yes we did -- you just didn't hear us.'"

Overall, "It's going real well out there," Gross said of the Petaluma operation. The City Council selected the company for a 10-year contract in September, giving Green Waste a relatively short turn-around time to get up and running for the January takeover.

Mayor David Glass said Green Waste made "a seamless transition" in taking over from Empire Waste, which had held the Petaluma contract since the 1970s.

"I have heard nothing but good," Glass said, noting that the new service coincided with heavy flooding over New Year's weekend.

Green Waste brought in extra trucks and debris boxes to help residents clean up after the floods, Gross said.

"They did a great job with that and I think they built some immediate goodwill in the community," Glass said.

The Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce has heard no complaints about the new garbage service, Executive Director Onita Pellegrini said.

"It seems to be, from everyone I've heard, a very smooth transition," Pelligrini said. "I compliment both them and Empire Waste Management."

Gross said the company can already tell recycling is increasing in Petaluma, which was one of the council's goals in choosing a garbage hauler.

"It's more than we projected, which is a good thing," he said. Some residents had saved recyclables from 2005 in anticipation of the expanded list of materials Green Waste would be recycling, he added.

Glass said the new system of putting all recyclables into one bin, instead of three separate crates, is proving popular in town.

"I hear a lot of folks talking positively about single-stream recycling," he said.

Along with increased recycling, officials hoped Petalumans would decrease the amount of garbage they throw away -- and use a smaller garbage can for a lower rate.

Green Waste said its figures show Petalumans beginning to move that way. Of the 17,300 households in Petaluma, 49 percent are using a 65-gallon can and 38 percent are using a 35-gallon can. About 7 percent are using the largest size, the 96-gallon can, and 5 percent are using the 20-gallon can.

Under Empire Waste, more than half of all Petaluma households -- 56 percent -- used the 65-gallon size. By switching to the next size down, 35 gallons, those residents pay $12.39 a month, more than a $3 savings from last year's price and avoiding the rate increase authorized under the new garbage contract.

Pelligrini said it's working in her home.

"I have the small can and I'm not filling it up at all," she said. Meanwhile, "it seems like my recycling is always full."

(Contact Corey Young at cyoung@arguscourier.com)