Solid waste collection changes arrive in San Ramon Valley

Solid waste service is being overhauled in Danville and parts of unincorporated San Ramon Valley this spring.

New collection carts began being delivered to residents in Danville, Alamo, Blackhawk and Diablo late last month, several weeks after these customers were allowed to start putting food scraps and food-soiled paper products in their green-waste bins for compost recycling.

These changes, and others, come as a result of the new contract between waste hauler Republic Services (formerly known as Allied Waste) and the regional solid waste authority formed among five central Contra Costa County municipalities and the county government.

“By implementing these changes, we hope to facilitate and clarify the process of recycling for residents so that we may reduce the amount of trash sent to the landfill and all do our part to sustain a healthy planet,” Tim Argenti, general manager of Republic Services, said in a statement.

The new collection carts, equal in size to customers’ previous bins, will be blue for recyclables, green for organic waste and black for landfill — any item that can’t go into the other two bins. There will also be clearer labeling on each cart to help users determine which disposed items go where.

The blue recycling cart will accept items such as cardboard, paper, glass, metal food containers, plastic containers and plastic bags. The green organics cart will still be for yard waste, but it now also takes food waste, such as food scraps and used paper napkins, plates and cups.

“The new cans will finally be consistent with the colors used universally — blue for recycle. That sounds small, but more accurate pre-sorting by our customers will help keep costs down for all of us,” Danville Vice Mayor Karen Stepper said. “The picture labeling is outstanding for the quick toss and reminders to ‘do it right the first time.'”

Stepper is one of 12 local elected officials who also serve as members of the Board of Directors of RecycleSmart — the now-rebranded common name for the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority.

It is a joint powers authority formed among Danville, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Walnut Creek and Contra Costa County. The authority’s new 10-year franchise agreement for waste collection and disposal took effect in March.

Republic Services handles collection, transfer and disposal of garbage, recycling and organics, under the agreement. Mt. Diablo Recycling processes recyclable materials from residential and commercial customers.

The new collection carts from Republic Services also include radio-frequency-identification tags to help with customer and pickup confirmation, which coupled with the other cart upgrades will enhance waste services in the area, according to RecycleSmart board member Newell Arnerich, a Danville councilman.

“The new carts will help our community achieve higher recycling standards which in turn helps keep our collection/disposal rates down. In other words, the more we recycle the more customers will save on future costs,” Arnerich said.

The food-waste pickup and disposal is another key component of the new franchise agreement, according to Arnerich, who explained the waste will be processed by the East Bay Municipal Utility District in anaerobic digesters producing electricity and fertilizers.

The waste hauler has also invested in new natural-gas trucks that are quieter and have better weight distribution to improve efficiency and reduce road damage, Arnerich said.

Public outreach, especially in apartment and condominium complexes, is another goal for RecycleSmart officials during the new waste contract, according to executive director Ken Etherington.

“Given the new mandated recycling and trash diversion laws, recycling in multifamily complexes is a significant opportunity for growth,” Etherington said in a statement.

“These complexes can educate tenants on recycling methods, improve their recycling rates and even adopt food scrap composting programs. Additionally, more educational materials will be offered at multifamily properties as we work toward increasing recycling,” he added.

Improving local recycling practices is vital as officials work toward the goal of diverting more than four-fifths of solid waste away from the landfill by 2020, according to Stepper.

“Using (the new name) “RecycleSmart” describes how we will reach our high goal of 85%. And ‘smart’ describes our multitude of ways to reach that goal,” she said.

Stepper pointed to the strategies of using modern technology, engaging all customers in the waste collection process and adding food-waste recycling, a service she said is especially important for local restaurants.

“These three ways to recycle will bring a dramatic reduction in our deliveries to our shrinking landfill — a true win for all of us,” she added.

The collection cart exchanges were scheduled to begin in Danville and unincorporated San Ramon Valley in late-March and due to be completed in May, according to Jency James, a recycling coordinator for Republic Services. The old carts are set to be recycled.

There have been several instances thus far of customers not receiving new bins before or immediately after the hauler took away their old bins — Danville officials fielded about a half-dozen calls from residents reporting that issue, according to town public information coordinator Geoff Gillette.

“Republic Services apologizes for any inconvenience customers have experienced in the delivery of the new bins or the pickup of the old ones,” James said, encouraging people to call Republic Services as soon as possible if a problem arises. “We appreciate everyone’s patience as we conduct the container exchange.”

For more information about the service changes, visit the Republic Services website or call the company at 685-4711.