I didn’t say it couldn’t, what I did say is that the city chooses not to spend the money on garbage and recycling infrastructure. I was pretty clear that the “recycling” program is nothing more than a profit making venture for the city by writing tickets. I also said the reason things are done the way they are is because the unions are so powerful and because making changes might require some neighborhoods which have never had to do so to take responsibility for their own garbage.</p>
<p>Your tone is a little questionable, but perhaps it’s the medium. I am a conservative republican who works in the private sector. My husband is a garbage man who makes $120k a year with benefits most of us can only dream about. I am prone to rage about his contract because I hadn’t known previously that picking up garbage is extra pay, dumping the garbage is extra pay, required Saturday work is time and a half. It’s staggering, which is why the taxes here are crippling. I would sell my soul to be able to leave the city and tell my kids every day that they should make their lives elsewhere because this city is unlivable for the middle class.</p>
<p>But I will reiterate that we will never have that many garbage cans allowed per house. There is just not enough room. Can you imagine living in a 800 square foot apartment and finding room for them? That wouldn’t work here at all. We have grabber trucks for schools and certain large apartment complexes, but currently that’s it.</p>
<p>It appears there seems to be some differences of “grabber trucks” here. zoosermom seems to be implying one that picks up a big dumpster and takes it over the cab. Others are talking about one which reaches out to the side and grabs a can. </p>
<p>Right or wrong, I think this is telling of the situation that zoosermom has in her area…
<p>But I will reiterate that we will never have that many garbage cans allowed per house. There is just not enough room. Can you imagine living in a 800 square foot apartment and finding room for them?</p>
<p>I wasn’t implying that there should be that 6-8 or so cans per household. I was asking if that’s what they’re doing in NY since you mentioned that all stuff is separated. Most/many can get away with one can for garbage, 3 small boxes (one for glass, one for paper, one for plastic), and black bags for lawn waste (not needed for apt dwellers). </p>
<p>$120k and amazing bennies for trash pick up. Well, there you go.</p>
Yes, but it’s also about maintaining the status quo. If we moved to a different system, all five boroughs would have to handle some aspect of their own trash management, which doesn’t happen now. So the unions are on the same side as the wealthy, influential NIMBYs and those are two constituencies which own the politicians here.</p>
<p>This is the Parent Cafe. We’re just chatting. Must we stay on topic?</p>
<p>About grabber arms: Years ago, my neighbor walked around asking if anybody had seen her large trash can, which had disappeared. Nobody had. The mystery was solved soon afterwards when my 4-year-old ran to the window to watch the garbage truck, and then yelled, “Mom! It ate our garbage can!” I called the company to report that our garbage can had been eaten, and the woman told me that the garbage cans sometimes slip off into the truck with the trash, and that they would provide us with a new can. That seems like a costly system to me!</p>