There was an amusing scene at the dump today: Traffic was backed up to Route 130 as folks rushed to throw out everything possible before the very expensive PAYT odyssey begins next week. Most of these vehicles were trucks, or at least big SUV's, and all were idling patiently spewing unknown amounts of air pollution that was probably destined to melt icebergs, kill polar bears and penguins, or whatever the latest eco-story is. (Click here to watch official DumpCam)
I'm sure all of these folks had something they would rather be doing on a sunny Sunday -- but I am also sure they have things they would rather spend their money on than trash disposal.
There was a Toyota Highlander parked nose-in at the pit. The driver seemed to be having a lovely chat on her cellphone -- as an entire line of vehicles (spewing hydrocarbons, etc.) waited for her to move so they could unload and get on with their day. But, I'm sure the inconsiderate moron meant well. Afterall, her T-shirt said, "Go Green, Cape Cod".
Do as I say ... Not as I do ?
12 comments:
Some additional dump musings.....did it ever occur to those that pullin or "nose in" still have to back up at least once? I have asked a few that pull in why they do so......the answer is virtually always the same, "I don't back up so good." Really? Does pulling in (nose in) prevent you from backing up? No it does not. How about the condition of the pavement entering the dump. You would think that the entrance to a towns' DPW would be free of potholes.....but not the case here in Sandwich. There should be two yellow lines painted from the rolling gate back around the DPW building for people to line up waiting for the ever accurate 8:00 opening hour. Have traffic wait safely around the back of the building instead of hanging out on the very dangerous expressway Rt 130. A simple idea that has been scoffed at. Not because it isn't a good idea because it is. It wouldn't be implemented because they didn't think of it. I'm not exactly sure what seven yellow shirts are supposed to do but it must be nice to be paid to sit. Home pick-up of trash is $35 a week. I will pay as I throw.....just not to Sandwich. It should be called "Pay As You Toss" because I have never seen anyone throw a bag of trash overhand. At least they have a new sign explaining ALL of their duties.
My family and at least 10 others, in our circle have gone to private collection. Yes it is for the convenience! The convenience we once had at our transfer station. As well as one of the few services we had for the taxes we pay. Too bad they just didn't raise the sticker price, most everyone was ok with that, but never got the chance to hear a discussion from our BOS. Good luck to all of you that will continue to use the transfer station! People backing up or driving into throw their trash, then meander (walk) over to the recycling area, chat along the way to folks "working", and catching up with neighbors, while others are kept waiting to "toss their cookies"!
.....and another thing, the towns website lists 13 vendors that VOLUNTARILY work as agents for the town. The only place people should be able to by the baby blue bags complete with the town seal ending up in the trash is at the dump itself. This is a town program so they should sell the bags.....not the private sector.
Thank you for your time.
....and another thing, the last day should have been either a Sunday or the long open time 8:00pm on Tuesday. Not a work day Thursday. Yeah yeah yeah I am well aware of the fscal year ending today blah blah blah but they can do anything they want. The vast majority of people work during the week.
Good olde Sandwich, never thinking outside the box to spare the family taxpayer. Just spin a story to make it sound reasonable and put the new taxes on the taxpayers. 20 years later, still no commercial tax base.
It is too bad there was no discussion about raising the sticker fee, but it was at that time of year, that the PAYT discussion started. The sticker fee hasn't been raised for years. Not something politicians, especially small town ones want to do. But PAYT was becoming popular all over the state so DPW wanted to look at it.
The mess with the bags this week has been amazing. I love that the bags don't fit, with overlap, trash cans, like normal bags do. It was suggested over and over again by citizens that the bags be sold through the town, but they didn't want to handle that. The merchants have to pay their own money to buy the bags. With tight budgets everywhere, is it any wonder so many "under-ordered" and ran out this week. I can't believe they are willing to do this?
In concept the program looks good on paper. Amazing idea on the part of the companies that profit, they've got people selling their products who aren't even on their payroll and public money going to subsidize their operations. Same old same old. I hope it works but fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy ride.
And don't blame the politicians. If the town wants something or doesn't want something, there is little that can be done. Most of the PAYT meetings have been in offices and with the famous SWAT committee. Let's just hope it works, brings in bucks, cuts down on the trash we have to haul off Cape and that we don't have a town full of trash everywhere. By the way Cape Waste is offering $30 a month pick up with recycling picked up twice a month. The question is where are they taking their trash.
....and another thing, confirmed through several of the retailers that they do NOT make a dime on these agent bags and there is a story a retailer tryed to bump up the price to cover their agency costs. The "Bag Police" swooped in and gave a stern reprimand for doing so. Now the Town of Sandwich is telling a retailer to NOT be a retailer but an agent. Wouldn't that be something if no one agreed to sell the bags? hmmmm.
I wonder how many retailers will be "agents" next week? Add to the sweet deal the private company who makes money making the bags, putting them in place, and getting vendors to buy them with people working for them not on their payroll, the town now has people working for them and apparently under their supervision that are not really employees of the town. Now I see what the town fought so hard not to do the bags themselves. What a waste of time. Of course they were advised by Waste Zero to set it up this way. The Waste Zero sales rep. needs stores to go to instead of one DPW person to deal with or he can't earn his salary and benefits which the town is now contributing to. The economics of it all is just amazing and reminds me why America is in real trouble. Add to that Waste Zero is based out of the state and yet another shinning example of poor economics.
We have to make money/avoid cost doing this. But with such a dysfunctional system there are so many other problems as well. Then of course you have the ever present screw the very same taxpayers we will need support from at the ballot box mentality at play. How many times have you heard someone say it's just about change being difficult? I am reminded of another old saying. Don't believe your own press.
...and lastly, having the bags sold by town agents instead of the dump gate house is the same as selling greens fees to Sandwich Hollows at Aubuchon instead of the pro shop. Sandwich should do that with everything right? Pay taxes and issue building permits from liquor stores. It is the same thing.
see you at the pond
If the town wants to make money, through some of it's operations in order to sustain them, the town has to get much more business oriented when it comes to resources...all resources. We can't put money and staff hours into operations that cost us money unless those are core services. There are services we as a community have identified as core and those will continue to be refined. But the true costs or an operation (including staff $ need to be calculated. This "having the smallest" staff mentality is a killer in reality but more so because it drives so many inefficient decisions. Then the smallest staff gets stuck using hours that should be going to solving more problems on one issue for too long to the determent of the big picture.
PAYT doesn't bother me. I just put the trash in the back of the truck and drive up and down Quaker Meetinghouse and 6A until it has all blown out!
The DPW always seems to have the staff to pick it up!
No bag required!
Keep your eyes open for a Class Action Lawsuit over the implied contract of these dump stickers. No refunds? There will be refunds
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