Some of our recycling trucks have an arm lifter

Submitted by KadenKraw t3_11laiuk in WorcesterMA

We have one of those recycling bins like this with the bar that trucks can automatically lift up. As expected they pick up the bin and toss the recycling into the truck because the trucks aren't able to use that function. Well once and only once we had the recycling guy grab the bin, wheel it to the other side of the truck and suddenly I see the machine arm lift it up and empty it.

So apparently at least some trucks can do this but the city just gave everyone bins that don't have this function...

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yennijb t1_jbblxcj wrote

I agree that we should at least have the option of using wheel-bins. If NYC can do it in their 3-5 story building areas like the brownstone neighborhoods we can do it here. It's disappointing that the previous city manager and previous & current heads of the DPW refused even to get solid lids that snap on or have a hinge for the new bins, they also refused to seriously consider the wheel-bins due to cost. Cost being getting new recycling/trash trucks that have the arm for lifting the bins, slight time adjustment for maneuvering the bins (which might mean extra hiring and more trucks, which means more maintenance costs), and the cost of the bins to get them for every residence plus spare for replacement.

Landlords are legally required to provide an external/outdoor enclosed bin for each apartment for trash already anyway, adding a little more space for the wheel-bins for recycling shouldn't be a problem, we could even convert to trash bins that wheel as well, that would be wonderful.

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LucasRaymondGOAT t1_jbbydvt wrote

I use a rolling recycling bin that I purchased myself and they've always taken my recycling....same with my trash.

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Trinimaninmass t1_jbcnvyc wrote

Same for my trash as well. I’ve always used 96 gallon bins for my trash and recycles and never had they driven by it

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legalpretzel t1_jbbnfxh wrote

Thank you Yenni. Clearly larger, denser cities manage this just fine.

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Whole-Wishbone-7539 t1_jbbrx6v wrote

Everyone should go out and get new zip ties for the shit bins

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Duderbot t1_jbc066i wrote

Cold Harsh Reality:

Bitching on the internet wont solve this issue. Do you know why? LESS THAN 17% OF REGISTERED VOTERS VOTED IN THE LAST MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. Not 17% of the population of Worcester. 17% of registered voters.

So, that means a small fraction of people in this city elect officials who will never raise taxes to improve sanitation the way people here want it. The status quo will continue, because most of the residents of this city can't be bothered to vote.

This point covers 99% of the shit people bitch about Worcester. Worcester sucks for you because nimby boomers like it the way it is. They vote. Statistically, most of you don't. So fuck you. Cry harder into your inadequately small recycling bucket.

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sunshinepills t1_jbbey1s wrote

Unpopular opinion, but wheelie bins in a city with a LOT of multi-family properties will turn trash day into chaos. Imagine 3-6 bins, per house, lined up side-by-side on a sidewalk. Where do the people walk? What if cars are blocking the truck arm's access to the bin? Those questions aside, it's a LOT of bins lined up on the street. Bonus round, there is not one singular trash day in Worcester, so this scenario will become part of the city landscape.

I'm not saying our current recycling system is great, but I am saying that wheelie bins are more than "I can cram a lot of stuff in here and it probably stays put!" (note: I've lived in places with the wheelie bins and they are also no match for a good gust of wind)

Now, if Worcester had street sweeping on a schedule that was more frequent than, say, twice a year, there would absolutely be less trash piled up in the streets and, thus, less discussion on whether or not our recycling bins are the problem.

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legalpretzel t1_jbbn4m0 wrote

Lived in several different neighborhoods in Boston (JP, A/B and Roslindale) and the wheeled bins were not an issue. I have no idea why Worcester is so special that we think we can’t possibly manage wheeled bins. It’s incredibly provincial thinking.

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KadenKraw OP t1_jbbo8je wrote

Yeah I don't why people act like Worcester is some magic unique city and that no other city has similar problems they may have found solutions for.

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yennijb t1_jbbor3r wrote

We already have 1-5+ bins per building, because that's how many bins already go out, with some folks having to put out 2-3 bins for a single dwelling unit. The increase in size might actually decrease the amount of bins and space they take up on the curb/easement, and unless people are putting them in the street they won't block any parking. People should also already know where the cars typically end up parking, and as long as there's enough space to get the bins through it should be no issue (which I agree could be an issue unless we go with the opposite sides method NYC uses which I think we should do regardless).

Bins also are typically not picked up directly from the sidewalk, they have to be brought to the side of the truck, the truck arms usually can't reach more than a couple feet from the side of the truck they are on, they're not telescoping/extendable usually.

As you say trash day isn't the same across the city, no city could operate that way, so bringing this up is a moot-point, we already have bins and bags out as a part of existing as a city.

Wheel-bins size and weight on their own are far more likely to stay put than the small 'have to lift them' bins that we currently have.

I do however agree we need a far more robust street sweeping schedule, which would be best implemented with opposite sides rules, ex. the day after trash day is one side of the street, and folks aren't allowed to park on that side, then the following day is the opposing side of the street. Even if that was done once a month on side streets it would be massively benificial to reduce refuse accumulation, and general road debris like leaves, sticks from storms. (this would also be a great option for snow cleanup/widening roads)

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IIRizzII t1_jbbrlt6 wrote

Well said! I agree with everything you pointed out.

I will add, that there are many reasons we would benefit from wheelie bins for trash. Many people put trash out the night before (some I’ve seen 4-6 days before trash day), if we had the bins this would deter rodents and any animal ripping open the bag; eating the scraps and making a mess of the streets. The bins would be large enough to fit several bags which would be less effort on the employees (instead of tossing each bag into the truck, they would just push it over to the lever thing; some apartments have excessive amounts of trash bags out on trash day).

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KadenKraw OP t1_jbblf6t wrote

> I've lived in places with the wheelie bins and they are also no match for a good gust of wind

Yeah I had the 55 gallons in a previous town. Big ones barely move. I have 35 gallon currently it stays put while everyone else recycling is all over the street

> Imagine 3-6 bins, per house, lined up side-by-side on a sidewalk

Like it already is? exchanging bins that don't have a auto lift ability for ones that do doesn't add more bins.And having larger bins that a truck can pick up would probably reduce the ammount of bins since we currently have very tiny ones.

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LowkeyPony t1_jbbs45y wrote

I live in Fitchburg and we have a lot of multi fam houses, and we have the LARGE wheeled carts for recycling. They pick up regular trash on a weekly basis, and recycling ever other week. Different parts of the city get picked up on different days. For instance my neighborhood is a blue pick up day. So every second week the recycling bin is along side the trash bin. The city has an ordinance that trash/recycling bins not be left curbside all the time. Usually on the more crowded streets, with less room, the occupants move the bins closer to the buildings so the trash/recycling isn't out by the street all week.

There are NO issue with walking on the sidewalks, parking etc with these bins. I have 1 multi fam on my street and they manage the bins just as well as those of us in single fam houses do. I drive down a street that is all multi fams with no off street parking and they manage the bins there as well. People just move the bins to where there are no cars parked. It's damn amazing!!!

Hell. My house is on a sidewalk side. My bins go out the night before pick up, even when there's a snow bank. The truck has no issues getting the bins. And people still have room to walk by on the sidewalk. On the occasion when we, or a neighbor has had a contractor parked in front on a pick up day, we just move the bins down a few feet. The wheels? They make it SO easy.

Also. Since getting the large bins there has been a noticeable reduction in racoons, opossums, and loose litter on the streets in my neighborhood. And I know this as fact since my husband, our neighbors, and myself walk the neighborhood and clean up what litter there is. Sure. A windy as hell day is a bit of a pain in the ass. But even with the smaller bins, like my hometown has. There's still litter. The only issues we now have is from the university students dumping their fast food bags outside of their cars when they park on the side streets.

If you're that concerned with loose papers, plastic bags flying around, and trash on the street get off the computer. Grab a fucking trash bag, and go pick it up. But I can tell you, from actual experience, you are incredibly incorrect in your bull shit complaint

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delaneydeer t1_jbcjtib wrote

We already have problems with people parking on the sidewalk, I think that’s more of an issue for people who need to walk or are in wheelchairs than a trash can on wheels.

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whethe_fugawi t1_jbcs579 wrote

How do wheeled bins take up more of a footprint than the short totes? Or random containers people use? Or piles of yellow bags?

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aKaake t1_jbbijnj wrote

I'm sorry, you are completely delusional. I don't even want to start on a rant about how wrong you are. You want to sweep the trash away? 🤦‍♀️

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yennijb t1_jbbiypk wrote

The commenter you replied to very clearly is talking about more frequently street sweeping to help keep blown away refuse from collecting in the streets, not as a way for all trash/recycling to be handled.

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aKaake t1_jbbk4dv wrote

I'm aware. Their entire post is ridiculous.

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yennijb t1_jbbmkve wrote

It's a fairly accurate take if looking at it from the perspective of what it seems like the dpw/city manager think about the problem. The questions are ones that can be answered/researched by just looking into the issue more in most cases, but this accurately covers the mentality of people who are against the wheelybins. So explain to me why this is rediculous?

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