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question/answer or scroll through the page.

1. Why do we need a new recycling program?
2. When does the new recycling program go into effect?
3. What do I have to do to participate in the new recycling program?
4. How does the new recycling program differ from the current program?
5. Why is there a rate increase and why is it so large?
6. How will the curbside recycling program work?

7. What is the cost difference for the new program in comparison to the existing program?

8. Please clarify the rate information.

9. I don't want another refuse or recycling cart; I don't have room for it.

10. Do I need to rinse recyclables prior to placement in the recycling cart?

11. How can I keep the shredded paper from making a mess in the street if I place it in the recycling bin with out a bag?

12. What options can I implement inside my home to presort my recyclables?

13. The soy milk and juice wax containers I purchase have a plastic lid, where should those go?

14. What should I do with plastics that do not have a #1-7 symbol?

15. Will the garbage and recycling picked up from my home continue to be sorted at the transfer station?

16. Can I use a plastic bag for my green cart?

17. In my neighborhood I see different size trash and recycling carts. Why?

18. I live in a townhome, what refuse service will I receive?

19. Why are we supposed to mix all our recyclables together?

20. If a products has the three arrows symbol on it, doesn't that mean it's recyclable?

21. Where do corks go?
22. What is the acceptable size/diameter of wood that is placed in the green cart?
23. How will the City of Pleasanton reach its goal of 75% diversion?
24. I have a trash compactor, can I compact my recyclables?
25. Can I recycle empty paint cans or other containers that had toxic chemical such as cleaning agents?
26. I recently moved to Pleasanton and need to find out about garbage service options. How can I get more information?
27. What day of the week is the recycling or garbage picked up?
28. How should the carts be arranged for trash pick up day?

29. What is necessary to be eligible for a senior discount?

30. Who set the 75% Diversion goal?

31. How many public hearings were held before the rate increases were approved?

32. When is the next recycling workshop?

33. What is the credit amount I will receive at the Buy Back center if I take in eligible recyclables?

34. What type of wood is accepted in the green bin?

     

Why do we need a new recycling program?

Pleasanton residents will take a larger role in protecting the environment with a new three-cart trash and curbside recycling program that will capture more recyclable material and send less material to the landfill. Collecting and sorting your metal, glass, plastic and paper recyclables also supports the effort to meet the 75% diversion target adopted by all cities in Alameda County.

When does the new recycling program go into effect?

One of the most important things you can do is to respond to the postcard mailer asking you to select the size of your trash cart. Then, just wait for your brochure and cart delivery this fall. The new cart will be delivered to your home by PGS.

What do I have to do to participate in the new recycling program?

The program will be implemented by fall of 2009. A brochure that fully explains the new recycling program will also be delivered to residents along with a new cart. Local businesses will join residents in this effort through a similar commercial recycling program.

How does the new recycling program differ from the current program?

The green waste carts currently used for grass clippings, food scraps and other organic materials will still be used, as will the existing trash carts for non-recyclable materials. The only difference is that a third cart will be added for recyclable materials including bottles, cans, jars, cardboard, aluminum and paper. There is no additional cost for the recycling cart. The blue bags currently used to separate recycled items will no longer be used.

Why is there a rate increase and why is it so large?

First, it is important to note that the current rate adjustment covers all existing services, including the green waste program which, up until this time, has been provided at no cost to residents. It does not involve the new curbside recycling program or changes in the size of your refuse collection cart. The increase is necessary to fund current services such as increased operating costs resulting from basic inflationary pressure on the industry, the cost of new equipment, increased landfill charges, and increased regulatory fees.

How will the curbside recycling program work?

The City Council has approved a new three-cart refuse and recycling service that entails residential customers selecting a new trash collection cart. Currently, Pleasanton residents put both trash and recyclable material into one collection cart, and recyclable material is sorted from refuse at a Material Recovery Facility (MRF). When the new program begins in the fall of this year, residents will put trash and recyclables into separate collection carts. This simple action will capture more recyclable material and help Pleasanton meet the Alameda County Waste Management Authority's 75% waste diversion target for Alameda County cities. The new program includes each household having three collection carts as follows:

• One collection cart for trash
• One collection cart for green waste
• One collection cart for recyclable material

The new recycling cart will be used exclusively for mixed paper, cardboard, aluminum beverage containers, steel or tin cans, aluminum foil, glass and plastic bottles. 

Recently, Pleasanton households received a notice in the mail requesting selection of either a 35-gallon or 96-gallon collection cart for refuse. Residents who have elected to keep a 96-gallon trash cart will receive a new recycling cart. Residents who changed from a 96-gallon trash cart to a 35-gallon trash cart will receive a new 35-gallon trash cart, and their existing 96-gallon trash cart will be marked with a new recycling sticker and converted to a recycling cart.  Your cart selection will impact the amount of your future PGS bill beginning in October 2009.  As a result, it is important that you review your options carefully and return the reply card that was included in the mailer.  PGS will deliver to each household its new cart and a brochure outlining the new program. 

What is the cost difference for the new program in comparison to the existing program?

Please see table below.

Please clarify the rate information.

Recently, Pleasanton households received a notice in the mail requesting selection of either a 35-gallon or 96-gallon collection cart for refuse. Your selection will impact the amount of your future PGS bill beginning in October 2009.  (See table below). The rate structure is comprised of fees for three carts that include a 64-gallon green cart, a 96-gallon recycling cart and either a 35-gallon trash cart or a 96-gallon trash cart.

SUMMARY OF PREVIOUS AND NEW MONTHLY RECYCLING AND REFUSE SERVICES

I don’t want another refuse or recycling cart; I don’t have room for it.

Most urban areas, such as San Francisco, have a three-cart refuse/recycling system, and with some innovation, most residents can accommodate all three carts. At this time, all residents are being asked to participate in the new program. The City will reevaluate participation policies after six months and may address alternative options at that time.

Do I need to rinse out recyclables prior to placement in the recycling cart?

Recyclables need not be rinsed.

How can I keep the shredded paper from making a mess in the street if I place it in the recycling bin with out a bag?

Using a paper bag to dispose of shredded contents is a simple way to secure shredded paper in your recycling container.

What options can I implement inside my home to presort my recyclables?
Use paper liners for the container that will hold all recyclable items. Continue using plastic bags for any garbage.  Food scraps may be wrapped in newspaper, paper bags or use the container provided by the City previously to transport material from the house to the green cart.

The soy milk and juice wax containers I purchase have a plastic lid, where should those go?

Place all wax containers in the green waste bin. The screw cap lids should be placed in the refuse cart.

What should I do with plastics that do not have a #1-7 symbol?

Only plastics with the symbols #1-7 should be placed in the recycling cart. Plastic lids, water bottle lids and unmarked plastics are not recyclable and should be placed in the trash cart.  Alternative disposal options could be available on www.earth911.com

Will the garbage and recycling picked up from my home continue to be sorted at the transfer station?

The new residential curbside recycling program will change the way PGS handles residential waste and recycling. All material placed in the recycling carts will be sorted. Material in the refuse cart will go directly to the landfill and will not be sorted.

Can I use a plastic bag for my green cart?

No. Plastic bags or any other content that is not compostable damage an entire green waste load; forcing the content to go to the landfill.

In my neighborhood I see different size trash and recycling carts. Why?

All households were sent a card earlier this Spring that shared information about the new program and were asked to submit a mail in post card if they wanted to get a smaller trash can (change from a 96-gallon to a 35-gallon). No response was necessary for those residents who did not want to change their trash cart size.

• Residents who elected to keep their 96-gallon trash cart will be given a new 96-gallon recycling cart.
  
  
• Residents who elected to downsize to a 35-gallon trash cart will receive a new trash cart, their existing trash cart (96-gallon) will be converted to a recycling cart, and a sticker will be affixed to notate this change.
  
  
• Residents who already had a 35-gallon trash cart (prior to the new program) will receive a 35-gallon recycling cart.
  
  
• Exceptions for smaller 35-gallon recycling carts will be made for seniors or disabled residents who cannot maneuver the larger cart.
  
  
• Town homes will receive 35-gallon recycling containers to accommodate their limited storage spaces.
  
  
• Town homes will not receive green waste carts (as they have never had one in the past).
  
  
• No changes to the green waste program for single-family residences.

Any resident who wants to change to a smaller cart now (after mail in deadline of June 12, 2009) can call PGS to be placed on a waiting list 846-2042. Delivery will be dependent on the availability of carts.

I live in a townhome, what refuse service will I receive?

Town homes will receive 35-gallon recycling containers to accommodate their limited storage spaces. Town homes will not receive green waste carts (as they have never had one in the past).

Why are we supposed to mix all our recyclables together?

By commingling recyclable materials, PGS is better able to sort the largest amount of recyclable material and make it available for landfill thus diverting it from the land fill. residents are also encouraged to use the PGS buy back center on Busch Road as as well as other recycling sources and programs throughout the community. Studies show that allowing the convenience of mixing materials together is key to getting more people to choose the recycling bin over the trash can and key to increasing tons of recyclables collected.

If a product has the three arrows symbol on it, doesn't that mean it's recyclable?

The three arrows symbol is not an indication that an item can be recycled. The recycling symbol is unregulated, meaning that no authority controls who places the symbol on what product, be it recyclable or not. The plastics industry uses the recycling symbol as an “in house” coding system to identify resin types.

It is important to follow the guidelines issued by the City and PGS, not the labeling on the product. Technically, almost everything manufactured could be recyclable if there was a reliable end-buyer for the material. The existence of a recycling market is typically dependent upon a manufacturer buying the product back for remanufacture. When an industry distributes a product and then uses virgin materials to manufacture new products, it creates material without a recycling market. In order for a material to be recyclable, there has to be a demand for it on the market, and that’s what determines what can and cannot be accepted.

Where do corks go?

Corks should be placed in the garbage container.

What is the acceptable size/diameter of wood that is placed in the green cart?

Wood or branches placed in the green cart should allow the lid to close fully and be no more than four (4) inches in diameter.

How will the City of Pleasanton reach its goal of 75% diversion?

The 75% diversion goal will be met through a combination of the following programs:

• Construction and Demolition Ordinance
• Commercial Recycling
• Residential Curbside Recycling

I have a trash compactor, can I compact my recyclables?

Recyclables should not be compacted.

Can I recycle empty paint cans or other containers that had toxic chemical such as cleaning agents?

Only narrow neck plastic bottles or jugs not used for hazardous materials should be placed in the recycling cart.

I recently moved to Pleasanton and need to find out about garbage service options. How can I get more information?

Residents seeking garbage service for their home should contact Pleasanton Garbage Service at (925) 846-2042

What day of the week is the recycling or garbage picked up?

All three carts will be picked up on the same day.  Carts should be placed out on the curb either the night prior to service pick up or in the early morning prior to service pick up.

How should the carts be arranged for trash pick up day?

Carts should have a three foot clearance from any obstruction (trees, motor vehicles, basketball hoops) and between the carts.

What is necessary to be eligible for a senior discount?

 The senior citizen discount is made available to people 62 years of age and older and the discount amount is approximately 12%. Residents should contact PGS to take advantage of this opportunity.

Who set the 75% Diversion goal?

Alameda County Waste Management Authority.

How many public hearings were held before the rate increases were approved?

Two public hearings were held before the rate increase was approved in April 2009.

When is the next recycling workshop?

Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at the Veteran’s Hall, downtown Pleasanton

What is the credit amount I will receive at the Buy Back center if I take in eligible recyclables?

A minimum of 75 lbs of material per quarter is required in order to receive the following discount credits: $3.51 for those with a 96-gallon trash service and $2.22 for those with a 35-gallon trash service.

What type of wood is accepted in the green bin?

Clean untreated wood is the only wood accepted in the green bin.