From:
To: City Council
Subject: Waste Contract
Date: Monday, January 20, 2025 7:36:01 PM
Dear City Councilmembers,
I am writing to seek a solution to the waste hauling decision which has the ability to sow distrust and discord in a meeting hall that has been relatively calm and positive over the last 25 years that I have lived here.
I recommend that you pull the issue out of the consent agenda and provide a more thorough examination of the decision by building a bridge of discussion with those, including myself, that feel that the decision should be looked at a second time.
I have worked as a county zero waste leaders as the primary coordinator for waste management for Santa Rosa Junior College for seven years and worked with Recology (as our vendor) for that time period. Further, I have worked with their education team on the Zero Waste Symposium, Apple Blossom Fair, and countless meetings and board presentations. They are amazing - responisive, union-strong, efficient, curious, and patient. Recology is the primary reason that Sebastopol and Sonoma County have made such big steps in diversion over the last ten years.
And diversion is not just for environmental causes - it significantly saves money.
Recology charges three times the rate for garbage as recycling at the JC and since we do so well, we save a lot of money with them.
You have the right to make the decision you want of course. But I and many others don't understand the rationale and don't know why a break from trust and communication is worth it.
Please pull the item out of consent and let us discuss. Thank you.
Guy Tillotson
Guy Tillotson