New Haven Independent

Posted by: on whalley | November 9, 2007 10:24 AM

Is this the number to call to complain about the $300K bus stops, the $200K armored assault vehicle and the mayors raise?

Posted by: john jessen | November 9, 2007 11:16 AM

Roland is green to the core and will never steer the city wrong!

Will a city wide compost perhaps be next? Can anything be done with all the leaves that end up in the trash? Green minds want to know.

Do we really need to have weekly garbage pick ups in the wintertime with those huge blue bins? If someone is filling that monster up they are producing too much garbarge!

I like the idea of making us fat americans walk our recyclables to a community holding center.

JJ

Posted by: FairHavener (yes me) | November 9, 2007 11:17 AM

I already added 311 to my "Fav 5" and programmed the speed dial to just "3". Oh I can't wait.

Posted by: New Haven Tea Party | November 9, 2007 11:55 AM

No...call 911 - taxpayers need resuscitation.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | November 9, 2007 12:49 PM

I am a bit stand offish on the 311. Is it worth a try yeah, but will it just become another barrier to the residents of the city??

But as far as the recycling YEAH!! I will stand with anything that can improve that in the city. Need voluntars to educate don't be afraid to contact me!! I am in this 100%

Posted by: cedarhillresident | November 9, 2007 4:23 PM

john jessen

Hey I like that community compost idea! I have one in my yard and invited my neighbor to use it in the spring I found garbage in it! I was so mad! but maybe with a few creative ideas that can be done. It would save a trash it, it would save on gas for the trucks and it would give communitys compost. Maybe the new recycle hire can look into that.

Posted by: peggy | November 9, 2007 5:14 PM

i love the idea of community compost! i have a compost bin myself. what about rain barrels? it rains so much here in connecticut, and one inch of rainfall over 1000 square foot roof can yield 600 gallons of water!

Posted by: Christine | November 9, 2007 5:58 PM

In Hartford 311 is just a way to divert calls from the people in City Hall who should be recieving them. 311 is just additional bureaucracy. For example, you call public works because you need bulky waste picked up, instead of accepting your call they tell you to call 311, which then takes notes and sends them to public works. Cut out the middleman. I wonder if New Haven talked to Hartford to find out how its been working? Hartford has had the stupid system for one year.

Posted by: Fedupwithliberals | November 10, 2007 9:35 AM

John Jessen

There are area farmers like Borelli in North Haven that uses the leaves for composting. doesn't cost the town a dime. I think that they even pick up the leaves themselves!

Posted by: Frank K | November 10, 2007 9:45 AM

I don't think the bar code thing will work. First of all, the bins end up all over the neighborhood after pickup. People don't always have the same bin week after week.
Also, a majority of the residents are renters. Are you going to try to punish the landlords because the tenants don't recycle? After 15 years as a landlord I realize that tenants will be tenants. Some recycle and some don't but I am not going to become the garbage police. If they want to fine the tenants I'm all for it.
The city needs to publicize the recycling program better so people know this is important. Most of my accademic tenants get it but people in the poorer neighborhoods generally don't.

Posted by: Moti Sandman - Alderman Ward28 | November 12, 2007 12:32 PM

Hi All:

Firstly thanks for your support of the expanded recycling idea. I would like to clarify a few questions in some of the comments:

I don't think the bar code thing will work. First of all, the bins end up all over the neighborhood after pickup.

You are correct that everyone will have to have tighter control of their bin - with the added financial incentive and perhaps a better labeling system we can keep better control over our bins.

With regard to the renters - that is a good question I will pose it to the city staff and Recycle Bank. I am not sure how that would work. I know that this is being done in other cities and we can see what they are doing and if it works there.

The leaf pick up is an important part of this as it contributes to a large amount of MSW and if we can turn it to recyclables we are saving both the Environment and the City. I too wonder if there is some way we can compost the leaves this year.

Posted by: Ned | November 12, 2007 1:27 PM

"using recycling trucks to weigh them during weekly collection" The Tooth Fairy will come too. How did all of those rocks get in my recycling bin? it's so heavy. Leaf pickup? Leaf bags sat on my neighbor's curb for MONTHS, until the bottoms rotted out. Does plastic waste mixed with cigarette butts and leaves magically decompose? "academic tenants get it" uhm, yeah right, that's why the people next door came to be known as "the garbage people" apparently a garbage can was some alien technology, or only of symbolic value, or some middle class affectation in need of deconstruction.
Also, a compost pile requires a lot of attention: rotting garbage = rats and flies.
"Birth control - the number one pollution solution"!

Posted by: Crank buster | November 12, 2007 1:54 PM

Ned- Your right, we should all give up. You and the other cranks on this site are beginning to piss off everyone who reads this site. You just complain, do noting positive, offer nothing meanigful. Other people try things, think through projects, work with interested parties and try to craft change in this city. You , Ieezzi, Doyans, Kerekes,- Gripe, Gripe, Gripe. Enough guys, we get it. You hate people and teheir attempts to make things better. Just lower taxes, right guys? ...You guys had potential at one pointto influence the dialougue inthis city- the aldermen now think you are either wastes of space, or they use just you to do their bidding.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | November 12, 2007 3:18 PM

We are try to get ideas for our web site to inform people in our community on what they can do. It is a bit of a mess but may give others ideas and if you have any please share. Remember there is more to recycling than just blue bins.
http://cedarhillct.tripod.com/id7.html

Posted by: Walt | November 12, 2007 4:32 PM

In Hamden we have an idea similar to 311, called the Help Desk.

It is worthless, just a hindrance because of the incompetent way it has been staffed as I see it..

Read Dilbert in the Register comics today. It fits the Help Desk idea or 311 idea rather well in my opinion.

Posted by: king james v | November 12, 2007 8:20 PM

The Hamden Help desk doesn't always answer my questions, but there is a human that answers (if a machine answers i call back 5 mins later), and as far as information about phone #'s, forms, dates, information that is available on the web i just couldn't find - it works well. It's a very good start. I'd like us to have a shot at that start.

Posted by: Ned | November 13, 2007 8:51 AM

Dear Crank Buster:

The longer I live in New Haven, the more taxes I pay and the more I seem to like plants and animals.

Spell check!

Posted by: cedarhillresident | November 13, 2007 3:30 PM

what about a program like the one at this link for the schools??? It works in the UK

http://www.recycle4schools.net/lan/lancashire_home.php

Posted by: robn | November 14, 2007 11:51 AM

There is a punishment for tenants who don't follow the rules and make a landlord incur cost...its called a security deposit.

Theres also a way not to mix up bins...its called a Sharpie magic marker and you can get one for a couple of bucks and wrote your address on the side of the bin.

Posted by: Hiscoolness | November 19, 2007 8:56 PM

I am with Christine on this idea of a 311 number to call. IF the appropriate department that is directly called cannot provide answers -- or does not return calls -- how will any third party be able to do better and steer the caller to the right department? People usually call the City to fix a problem and not just to have someone forward the call to another City Department.

This will prove costly and frustrating. Whose idea was it?