oh so that is why recyclables were not picked up. To think it was every other Wednesday guess it was poor judgment on my part. Thank goodness their are containers at DPW to drop off plastics and cardboard because I was full to the brim. Otherwise I agree the new program works well with just a little inconvenience

I wonder how much gas we'll use, and how much pollution we'll cause, if we all drive to the DPW?

Gary Regan

Agreed! We have a family of six and 2 Wednesdays a month is pretty tough. Didn't know that you could drop off at DPW. I may have to start doing that. I don't see why every other week couldn't be accomodated. After all they didn't lower our bill at all.

Why not pick up recyclables once per week and regular garbage one per week? In a four week month, it would save the Village two trips per month over the current system (8 vs. 10). While, I rarely have more than one can of regular garbage per week and usually only put it out once, I am always up to my eyeballs in recyclables. This week I forgot to put my recyclables out, so I either have to store a months worth or drop them off at the DPW yard.

I love Jeffrey's idea. That would certainly work well for me.

I 100% agree with the once a week garbage and once a week recycling! Since we recycle so much, it definitely cuts down on the actual garbage. We dont need that second garbage pick up. And, yes, if you forget recycling pick up... you're screwed. This Wednesday, a neighbor put out recycling = wrong week. It blew over and never got picked up. A few days later, I'm going down Mountain Road picking up their garbage. Want to talk pollution? Another "weekend neighbor" puts out recycling whenever they're around. It blows around and stays there until pick-up. Crazy. Give us back the once a week PLEASE!!

My family's experience with this schedule is exactly like yours, Jeff. And I agree, once a week for each would be sufficient. I made this suggestion to the current administration. Here's what I was told: My family is an exception. Most people only put out a small can of recyclables each week. In regard to one weekly trash pickup, I was told that it wasn't possible for "health reasons."
First, I find it hard to believe that my family of five is an "exception", especially when I'm anywhere near the elementary school at dismissal time. Looks to me like we've got lots of families in the Village that probably generate plenty of recyclables. Second, it seems to me that we're encouraging people not to recycle with the current schedule. And I'm reasonably certain that it costs us more to dispose of mixed trash than it costs us for recylables. Third, many, if not most, municipalities only pick up trash once a week. It doesn't seem to be a public health issue in the Town of Newburgh, for example.
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm having a hard time finding the logic in the way things are being done around the Village lately.

HI all- I agree the current pick up schedule could use some major work and I was told a few weeks ago that the "5th week " issues was being discussed by the new DPW personel. But please be aware that the people who have teh power to make these chenges do not necessarily read these posts. You need to contact either the village hall or the responsible party directly to get your voices heard. I found this out on an issues concerning the water front this past summer. So please don't let the issue drop here- call and talk to teh powers that be. Just thought your should know.

P.S. sorry for all the the errors in that post- YIKES!

When I first heard about the change to the garbage and recycling schedule, I suggested to Mayor Gross that we would save more time and money by going to a once a week garbage and once a week recycling schedule. Additionally, we would be a more 'green' community (as purported to be part of the rational for the change in the initial letter to residents) if we reduced total trips as similarly outlined by Mr. Small. Like Mr. Wenz, I was given the same rational - there was a vermin concern with once a week garbage pickup. I noted that I have lived in many communities that were able to manage once a week gargbage pickup, and that vermin would probably be attracted to recyling as well as garbage. I recommended to Mayor Gross that the issue be revisited. He disagreed and declined to consider a change at that time. Like Mr. Wenz, from my informal and unscientific survey, I have concluded that most families have more than a small recyling bucket. Let's incent recyling by making it easier.

You know, I thought I was the only one annoyed by this new schedule. I called the DPW to ask them to send me a schedule of pickup dates and never even got a call back. I think the new system sucks and I would be very curious to see actual numbers of what we have saved by the change. I am sure it is not very significant. I also was not aware you could drop off recyclables at the DPW. I think once a week for both would probably work fine except for those dates around major holidays when people entertain. Perhaps there could be an extra pickup during those occasions.

I wrote to the mayor in July after I realized the schedule was not every other week. I never got a reply to my suggestion of weekly garbage and recycle scheduling.
We are one of the few communities that has bi-weekly garbage pick up. How do the other communities that do it on a weekly basis handle the health/vermin problem?
This subject needs to be addressed again.

I can pretty much guarantee that the Mayor and at least two trustees read these posts, even with "tin can" technology, on a regular basis. I agree that the 5th week scenario needs to be addressed, as does the idea of weekly garbage pick-ups. As we approach budget season, this will certainly be on the table. Listen, I know it's a hassle, when compared to the old schedule, but we can't lose sight of the bigger picture here: The environment and our village's budget realities.I still remember your "paradigm shift" comment, John, and it is certainly the case here. By the way, I've got to assume that the posters here are acquainted with the messages coming from Gov. Patterson's office these days. Things are not pretty. I've got a family of four. We are diligent recyclers. I purchased two medium sized trash pails: smaller than regular trash cans, but much larger than the old 5 gal. pails the village gave out years ago. We make sure to crush the plastic and metal before disposing of it. It works for us, and I have to believe it would work for virtually all village residents (the referenced family of six might be a different story!) As it has been pointed out here, the DPW yard does have available dumpsters for recyclables in the event of overflow. Let's please not lose our spirit of cooperation and understanding. It will make all the difference. Thanks.

Rick Gioia

I'm amazed to hear that Rick Gioia thinks that the mayor reads these posts. How could he possibly be reading about what the people in the village think about his administration's policies, and not address the issue in this forum? Only a mayor who didn't care about what people think would do such a thing. I think that Rick Gioia must surely be mistaken.

With all due respect to all parties, Gary Regan

Hey Rick - glad to see & hear you guys are monitoring these comments. I have to agree with the other posters here that once a week for each would be WAY better than what we have now. We usually fill to 3/4 a rather large trash container with recyclables each week. We do try to compress but maybe could do more in that regard. The real problem is during holidays, or if a p/u week is missed by accident. But now that I know we can just bring it down to DPW ourselves - no biggie I guess.

I hope the ones who would support garbage pickup once a week realize that if you miss that day you have 2 weeks of garbage and really no options of dumping it. However if you miss the recyclables you can run them down to dpw any day of the week. Once a week garbage pickup would not work and I really don't care for those large plastic containers that are much of an eyesore

yeah, darn, how inconvenient! Remember the 'good old days' when you could just throw everything away (away from you, that is) and you didn't have to worry about cleaning up after your self and you could just leave your big ugly carbon footprint and nobody gave a crap? Get with it kids, adapt to the change; adjust as necessary, and modify your reduce , reuse, and recycle habits. As Rick pointed out, the cute little spackle bucket recycling containers are too small for serious recycling efforts. We are a family of four, I have a regular thirty gallon can for paper, a 30 gal for plastic glass and metal and a 25 gal for overflow , like when we miss a week. And for those with gentle sensibilities, I try to make sure that the kids keep them in the garage. (Although honestly, McMansions offend me more than trash cans) The DPW DID send out a schedule. I did not know that I could drop off my own recycs, so that is a communication issue that could be improved. And it is not like the DPW is far away. It's at the bottom of the hill. If you really need to dump (hahaha) the transfer station is right up 17k from Union Avenue. As far as vermin, the first time a new family moves into the neighborhood they try putting out garbage bags - after three visits by the oppossums, raccoons, and crows they go buy a can with a tight fitting lid. I am willing to suffer the minor inconveniences if it means a cleaner, greener earth.

Fair points John. I guess for my family we generate WAY more recyclables than garbage, so I'd sooner risk two weeks of accumulated garbage, than close to 4 weeks of accumulated recycs. Either way, we can always drop off at DPW or Newburgh if worse comes to worse.

I am still in the once a week for each camp. But it sounds like it isn't going to change anytime soon anyway. So we'll just have to deal.

To get back to my original point: would it cost the village THAT MUCH to send a truck out every time there are 5 Wednesday's in a month? Surely we're paying enough in taxes to cover this.

From now until the end of 2009, we'd need the extra pick up on onlty 4 days--April, July, September, and December.

Is this too much to ask?

sounds good to me Gary someone should bring it up at the next meeting