Service disruptions

Arecent conversation brought to light a letter expressing umbrage at a disruption in garbage collection due to the recent snow. Considering that Waste Management has provided service as faithful as the sunrise, at least for the last 40 years in my neighborhood, the

“disruption” brings two questions to mind.

First, rare as they may be, disruptions may occur. It is a good thing, in terms of public safety versus the dangerous driving conditions, that the garbage trucks were not out and about in the snow. Likewise, spilled garbage is public health hazard.

That the City of Palmdale, or the County, or the Waste Management made a tough decision that was in the best interest of the public is a good thing, and the responsible thing to do.

What should one do? Plan ahead. How about having extra garbage bags to hold the extra until the next pick up? Perhaps the Valley Press could contact the Waste Management company and write an editorial on how to deal with service disruptions.

A second consequential question involves public sanitation: What to do about overfilling garbage cans? People who do so create a public health hazard, courtesy the ravens. Ravens are opportunists, raiding garbage cans and spewing garbage all over the place. A solution is to dispose on garbage responsibly: Don’t overfill cans. If someone routinely generates more garbage than the can will hold, get a larger or second can.

In the case of one of those disruptions, Waste Management could pick up bagged garbage at the next opportunity. The answer to this public health issue might well be a part of the aforementioned suggested editorial. While such an editorial will not deter the determinedly irresponsible, there may well be a large number of people who would benefit from the knowledge. Jorg Largent

Palmdale