Huntington Beach News

Huntington Beach Beaches:

Newsletter by Chris MacDonald

January 17, 2006

In This Newsletter I Would Like To Recognize A Local Construction Company That Specializes In Home Remodels Such As Room Additions, Window Installation, Door Installation, Floor Installation And Redoing Stucco Work. They Have Had Several Jobs In This Neighborhood And Have Done Excellent Work. Their Office/Showroom Is Located On Gothard Between Heil And Edinger Here In Huntington Beach.

Here Is Some Community Information: Do You Sometimes Get Your Mail Delivered Late In The Day? It Might Be Because Some People Are Ordering Items Online And The Mail People Are Delivering Them.

Huntington Beach Pool Is Open For Lap Swimming. Swimming Is One Of The Most Effective Activities That You Can Do To Revitalize Your Cardiovascular System. Visit, Payable At The Pool, Or You Can Purchase A Pass At The City Gym And Pool On Palm Near 16th Street. This Information Is Courtesy Of The Huntington Beach City Administrator's Office.

Rainbow Disposal Inc. Modernizes Trash Collection. Here Is A Letter Written By Ron Shenkman, CEO Of Rainbow Disposal Inc. Thank you for your interest in the modernization and automated collection proposal by Rainbow Disposal Inc. (Rainbow). The following information should assist you in understanding the reasons for and the benefits of modernization.  Employee-owned Rainbow Disposal, Inc. will launch a pilot automated collection system in residential Sunset Beach in mid- 2006, and proposes to automate collection in Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley in early 2007. On January 3, 2006, members of the Huntington Beach City Council were presented with the modernization plan in a public study session.

Rainbow will bear the entire cost of modernization and will not pass these off to customers. Trash collection rates to residents will remain stable. Bin service collection in most mobile home parks and condo and apartment complexes will remain the same. The successful conversion to automated collection depends on the cooperation of residents. Rainbow has been a dependable community partner providing excellent service for over 50 years.

Modernization and automation is necessary for four important reasons: The safety of workers. Each day, drivers lift and throw 28,000 pounds of your trash into the trash truck. They have experienced and continue to be at risk for needle sticks, cuts, bruises, back sprains, etc. Worker's compensation is a threat as is possible ergonomic legislation that may ban manual collection of trash in the future. Increased collection efficiency. Automated collection is faster. There will be less trash going to landfills. Green or yard waste is by far the greatest contaminant in the waste stream. By separating it at the curb Rainbow can recover more materials that are cleaner for recycling.

State law requires us to divert 50% of our waste from the landfill. That requirement could increase to 75% in the near future. A cleaner environment. Rainbow must re-fleet. New trucks will most likely run on compressed natural gas (CNG) which reduces air pollution. New air quality requirements begin going into effect in 2007. Containers with attached lids keep trash and litter from escaping into streets and storm drains and prevent vermin from scavenging. Most homes will get three carts: Green for yard waste, brown for trash and blue for recyclables.

All recyclables (paper, glass, plastic, etc.) can be placed together in the blue cart. Residents will be able to choose cart sizes to fit their own needs, either 95-gallon (width of 29 in.), 65-gallon (width of 26 in.) or 35-gallon (width of 20 in). An additional cart for yard waste and/or recyclables will be delivered free upon request. An additional trash cart will be available for a one-time delivery fee to-be-determined. Special free pickups of bulky items will be expanded from the current limit of one item per pick up twice a year, to ten items per pickup four times per year.

Those items may include bagged trash as well as old appliances or furniture. Some multi-unit complexes with minimum landscaping and gardening service will need only blue and brown carts. Change is difficult, but new and better technologies are available today and Rainbow is willing to invest in them,” said Ron Shenkman, Chairman of Rainbow Disposal, Inc. Our goals are to maintain the high level of customer satisfaction, streamline the administration of trash collection and processing, maximize diversion of trash from the landfills, improve efficiency and reduce pollution.”

Rainbow will mount a thorough and comprehensive public education campaign designed for optimum customer service. Customized solutions and personal attention will be provided should special needs or problems arise. The conversion from manual collection of trash to automated trash collection will require Rainbow to replace their fleet of diesel trucks with a new fleet, most likely powered by compressed natural gas (CNG). Engine noise will be reduced, air emissions will be cleaner, collection will be faster, and worker injuries will be greatly diminished.

A single driver will be able to collect the trash in much less time thus increasing efficiency which helps stabilize collection rates. Rainbow will also reconfigure the materials recovery facility (MRF) in Huntington Beach taking advantage of technological improvements now available that yield more recyclables.

These better sorting technologies depend on cleaner recyclables which is a major reason for asking residents to separate those materials from yard waste and other contaminates. The existing MRF will also be upgraded with new technology, so Rainbow will continue to process all materials, not just source-separated materials.

Rainbow is also adding a MRF for construction and demolition waste. When we looked at the way were doing things and then started planning for the next ten years of trash service in our communities, we saw some threats and problems that would arise if we just kept doing it the way we always have,” said Bruce Shuman, CEO of Rainbow Disposal, Inc.

We also have some opportunities to make many things better including becoming better stewards of the environment. But we need the help of the community to make it happen.” The benefits of automation to residents are many: Free containers with wheels and sturdy attached lids Choice of size to fit individual needs Continued collection of all waste with flexible 10/4 Pickup Program Cleaner streets and neighborhoods, Comprehensive education effort Telephone help line Instructions and diagrams on carts Rainbow Disposal, Inc. has been serving the communities of Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley for 50 years. In 2004, the employees completed the purchase of the company. Rainbow is now 100 percent employee-owned.

The company's stated mission is to serve the waste collection, disposal and recycling needs of customers with efficiency while ensuring a safe and rewarding career for employees.  There Is Going To Be A Special City Council Meeting To Discuss Poseidon On Monday February 27th, 2006 At 6:00PM At City Hall In The City Council Chamber's At 2000 Main Street In Huntington Beach.