”
I was out March 6, that’s our garbage pickup day on Cedar Court.
Why do I have to go through all this recycle rig-a-marole when the
garbage truck came and took the garbage can then immediately picked
up the recycle can and threw it in the same truck? And it happened
again the following week. What’s going on?
”
Both garbage and recyclables dumped in same truck
“I was out March 6, that’s our garbage pickup day on Cedar Court. Why do I have to go through all this recycle rig-a-marole when the garbage truck came and took the garbage can then immediately picked up the recycle can and threw it in the same truck? And it happened again the following week. What’s going on?”
Dear Recycled,
Red Phone contacted Phil Couchee, general manager at South Valley Disposal and Recycling. He said what you observed is exactly what is supposed to happen.
“With the start of the new ‘single stream’ recycling program (the use of large blue carts for all recycling together) we began using a new fleet of trucks. These new trucks have two compartments, one for garbage and one for recycling. Take a look at the back of the truck, you can see the separate compartments. The material is all taken to our transfer station where the garbage is dumped in one spot for transfer to the landfill, and the recycling is dumped in another spot for transfer to the recycling plant.
So good caller, no need to be concerned. Things are working well. Keep recycling.
Don’t tell me to drink tap water
“My complaint is the Santa Clara Valley Water District says to drink water out of the tap. Even the Gilroy City Council says that. The tap water is not safe, so who’s to tell people tap water is safe.”
Dear Bottled-up,
Red Phone understands your consternation, but the water and the city aren’t telling residents to drink tap water. The water district passed a resolution that banned the purchase of bottled water with district funds. Makes sense, since they are the water district and supply water to more than 1.8 million people. Then the Gilroy City Council approved a resolution that bans council members from drinking bottled water on the dais. Councilmen Perry Woodward and Craig Gartman voted no.
And Santa Clara Valley Water District officials say that “contrary to the propaganda, tap water is, in fact, subjected to more rigorous testing and purity standards than bottled water,” according to a district press release. It cites a four-year study by the Natural Resources Defense Council that found a third of the bottled water tested to contain contaminants.
So, seems to Red Phone tap water here is just as safe as bottled water. Safe drinking.
What happened to the sign?
“Red Phone, I’m the daughter of Norman Watenpaugh. Our family had the city put up a beautiful sign over by Christmas Hill Park. When we went to take a look at it we noticed that it is no longer there. What happened to it? Is it going to be replaced? It was a beautiful tribute to our father and we’d like to have it replaced.”
Dear Want it Replaced,
Red Phone contacted Operation Services Manager Carla Ruigh, who said the sign was damaged during maintenance work on the levee.
“Staff is ordering replacement parts/materials as needed and will re-install the sign as soon as the replacement items have arrived. It may take a few weeks for the replacement items to arrive. Parks Supervisor Chris Orr will call Norman’s daughter and explain the situation.”
So, if you haven’t already gotten a call, expect one soon. Red Phone looks forward to the day the sign is replaced. It was a fitting tribute to your father.
Red Phone is your one-stop shop for answers to what’s going on in Gilroy. When will that new stop sign get installed? What new stores are coming to Gilroy? What’s going on with the old Red Barn? Call 842-9070 or e-mail
re******@gi************.com
to submit a question. Then, keep an eye out for the answer.
