Curbside Pickup Misconceptions and Other Ramblings

Let's get the facts straight. 

Michael Lyons did not say that he may or will put curbside pickup in the 2013 budget.  Mr. Lyons said that the Board of Selectmen do not need voter approval to implement curbside pickup in town.  They could do it with a majority vote of the Board.  That sounds like it would be political suicide to me but if you listen to some voters in town, just about anything a selectman does is suicide!

When I drive through town as I did today, I see all manner of trash containers on the side of the road.  Plastic trash cans, metal trash cans, cardboard boxes full of trash, toters of all sizes and even trash in garbage bags.  Now, that is unsightly! In windy days some of these lightweight containers find their way into the middle of the street obstructing traffic.

Curbside pickup will bring uniformity. Everyone will have the same size and color containers.  These containers are heavy duty and won't be blowing into the streets or be easily tipped over by animals.  The weight of the lids will keep the rabid raccoons out also.

I have not noticed an excessive amount of trash in the streets around these houses that use private haulers.  In fact, they look no different than any other house.  Trash day is not the cause of debris in our neighborhoods - it is the inconsiderate people driving around who trash our streets with the litter they throw out of their car windows.

I think that before people comment in the papers, whether it be an ad or a reader comment section, they should get their facts straight.  The company that was selected by the Salem Municipal Solid Waste Committee to implement curbside pickup in Salem is called E. L.Harvey, (www.elharvey.com), not Hardy or Tessela.  E. L. Harvey is a leader in the recycling industry and just happens to also haul trash.