Jeanita:
What an alarming & troubling story. JPA RecycleSmart and Cat Bravo offer no evidence as to how their calculations for revenue required to meet Danville's service delivery requirements for 2023 is calculated at $12,493,978. Where's the accounting for this? What were prior revenue figures for preceding years, (i.e., 2022, 2021, etc.) ? With a rate increase of $6.71 per month, I'll take care of my own garbage rather than subsidize an organization's self-serving money-grab, (possibly the result of a backroom handshake between our Town Council & JAP???).

Last year at least 10 times they failed to pick up all three containers on the day scheduled, and it had nothing to do with the weather or acts of God. How about our Town Council negotiate a deal with them that each week they fail to pick up all 3 containers on the scheduled day the customer gets a $20 discount on next month's bill? It is time our town council act like true representatives of the people rather than sheep simply doing whatever the garbage companies try to force on us.

Almost immediately following my reading of this article, I received my nearly weekly robo call from Republic Services announcing that they will "service some, or all of our containers tomorrow." Like "D" above I am left wondering why we are looking to "reward" Republic's seriously poor service with yet another rate increase. Our repeated problems with our trash, recyclables, and green waste collection started when Republic evidently "out bid" Waste Management for the contract to serve Danville. I have made more than a few calls to Republic, and the responses well I hate to say it have been largely BS! They have the "reason du jour" (trucks malfunctioning, drivers on Covid relief days off, someone has a "hang nail") on tap to try and explain away their inability to perform their contractually agreed upon services.
So, rather than "rolling over" (again) and giving Republic an undeserved rate increase, The Town Council should be looking for another provider. Republic is a huge corporation, they should have long ago figured out what they need to do the work without calling us ad nauseam to tell us, they can't do the job again. You end up wondering if it's just a ruse to reduce the amount of trash they end up moving. A day's delay here, a day's delay there, soon you're talking tons of stuff not being moved.
On related topics, unlike their predecessor, their drivers nearly always manage to leave some debris on the street. And if you use their "recycled oil program," don't expect them to leave you an "empty" when they take yours as they never have one to replace the one you've put out. So you have to buy your milk in the correct gallon jugs with the screw cap ( they won't take the snap on ones).
Make me "mayor for a day," and I'd cancel their contract! Danville deserves reliable, on-time refuse collection!

In addition to the other comments, our Christmas tree was not picked as promised. It is still laying in my driveway. They picked up other trees in our neighborhood but left ours and another neighbors. My tree is less than 6 ft. Our garbage service is awful. Many weeks they leave at least one can for the next day. Why on earth would you continue to contract with this company? Plus give them an enormous rate increase? Please reconsider your contract with this ineffective company.

I sent an email to Cat today. We need to let them know how many people are unhappy with the service.

Dear Cat,
I read in DanvilleSanRamon.com that our garbage rates are being renegotiated by the Town.
The service we have been receiving for the cost is frustrating. Many weeks we have one of the 3 cans not picked up on our trash day. Often the drivers do not fully empty the cans and I have had to have them come back out to finish emptying it. They will drive away and leave trash on the street from emptying cans. We are already paying quite a bit and this organization does not seem to be able to fulfill the current contract our town and its citizens have with them. When I call the reasons are labor shortage due to Covid, truck maintenance, etc.
I hope the Town considers this as they negotiate on our behalf.