Perhaps while you are looking into the trash rules, could you please explain the use of the blue bin too? Previous customers of Athens did not have to sort their trash and now we do. The list of recyclables goes into detail about paper and metal but does not even mention plastics of any kind. Could they fall under the vague "all other materials that can be recovered at the processing facility" label??

Just wait until you need servicing on said trash bins, you'll call, they'll show up a week from some Tuesday.

I, too, was concerned about the specific lack of mention of plastics going into the blue bin. I'm just going to put in my plastics. I've never heard of a recycling program that didn't take numbered plastic items....seems to me those would be a lot easier to deal with than just the masses of undifferentiated paper types that are going in there as well.

And the 4X6 thing....I figure that tying yard trimmings in bundles with hay bale twine is a good idea anyway. And if I can lift something, the burly gents from Athens will be able to lift it as well. I will put out what I want to go, and they will probably pick it up. If it's the same guys that are working my neighborhood currently, they are friendly, helpful, and will grab anything I put out. I have already requested my second free green waste bin, which I think was arriving today or next week.

Anyone else had issues with the GIANT bins? They clear my gate with about an inch to spare on either side.

I, too, have an issue with these GIANT bins. I have no place to store them! My deck was built with sliding doors underneath to accommodate hiding trash cans. Now, these three huge,ugly monstosities overpower and blemish my garden. I don't have a garage, only a carport, so I can't put them there... what's a person to do who has no place to store these these multi-colored eyesores??

The whole world should have such problems. Too bad about having to sort. But when I lived in Altadena I always suspected that Athens didn't actually sort our recycling anyway.

Apologies to my neighbors, but my big bins may have to live on the street. I will bring the sorted items out bit by bit. My yard man will handle the green bins, but they too will be on the street where he will set them when he refills them two days after pick up. It isn't pretty though. Will local trash strewers use them and use them correctly?

Diane, there is an option for three smaller containers, which i may use, if I really want to store or haul that many. They will take that request in October or later. Thinking about it. Re the senior option, the catch is if you officially declare your seniorhood, they will charge less but take away your big garbage [black] can and give you only one 32 gal one. That too may work for us because I have a hunch that after diligent sorting, the volume of actual garbage will be rather small. Like new shoes, this will require some walking about before the fit feels right.

You beat me to it, Doris. Panel 5 of the brochure says smaller carts are available, under certain circumstances, upon request. Also, the GM of Athens wanted me to put in a disclaimer that kids shouldn't play inside the bins due to safety issues. The photos in question were taken under adult supervision and the children are professional models. (I paid them in cookies.)

Anyone with Athens trash questions can go here for more info:
http://www.athensservices.com/Altadena.htm
OR
call them at 1-888-336-6100

Love this! Funny you should mention Dutch because when I saw the boys in the bins I thought, "That must be how Black Peter ships the bad kids off to Spain."

Karen, as a Norwegian, can I assume that you are hiring Swedish children for these measurements?

Doris, you know our people. We Norwegians will work hard for a well-baked chocolate chip cookie. Or Akvavit.

On a side note to this conundrum, our trash company was Allied. My adult son actually knew and talked to our trash men -- he is that kind of affable guy who actually talks to the mail man, water guys, et al. The men who worked for Allied told him that all of the men who worked Altadena were let go by Allied. Kinda sad in this economy.

Yikes. I'm getting a headache trying to figure out the new trash rules. But, as Petrea says, the whole world should have such problems. Thanks for the perspective, P.

My usual pick-up is Thursday, but tomorrow is Sept 1, which starts the new contract, yet my new pick-up is Monday. If it's the same situation for you, here's the deal:
Use your old bins tomorrow. Next week use the new bins, Tuesday pick-up because of Labor Day.

Thanks for the trash talk, Karin. I appreciate how you're always willing to take up the dirty topics.

these rules are a problem at first but you get used to them. for branch sizes, i essentially dont throw anything i cant cut with a long hand pruner into the garden waste bin. few can cut larger than 3 inches so thats easy to use as a metric. for the things like yucca, realize that what goes into the garden bin gets run through some kind of shredder. Palm fronds and maybe less so yucca, can cause that shredder to become jammed. Its pretty easy to imagine which would do this and to throw away accordingly. Most services do not necessarily open your bin to check, but if you have palm fronds hanging out from under the top of your garden bin, they can see this and will tag your bin and not take it away.
regarding recycling, some services allow styrofoam in the recycling bin. that was a recent change, not sure about athens.
my suggestion would be not to try to remember it all at once, rather look things up as questions arise for you. hopefully they dont just dump all of these into the same place anyway... :-P

Some people have mentioned plastics above. Most, if not all, plastic containers are recyclable. You may not be able, as a small user consumer, to take them to the recycling place where you take your aluminum cans, but they are recyclable and Athens does sort these out of the mixed trash along with metals, paper, and glass. There is very little true refuse in our home trash, so the blue bin may get more use than the black bin! We'll probably have some growing pains, but I'm looking forward to the changes. Good luck everyone!

When the Star-News went to see the recycled garbage-sorting people at Athens a few years ago, the folks at the conveyor belt wished that everyone would take the tops off the bottles they put in the blue bin. Or did I dream it?

It's not often but every once in awhile I get to say Los Angeles has you beat. We've been doing this since the 90's. The bins come in three sizes. No hassle replacements. If you can shove it in the bin and the truck can lift it, they take it. We also have a place to drop off e-waste and toxic stuff plus a once a month large item pick up. We even have a brown bin for rural communities with horses. Did I mention the men/women are well paid with health benefits?

My mother has Athens. I once put a cinderblock in one of her cans. Instead of taking it, they pulled it out. If you want something removed, you have to be around to slip the guys some cash.

My service with Athens Services did not start great, they only delivered me blue and green bins and forgot the black bin for trash, on Sept. 1st, 2011 when I called their toll free number to see why I don’t have my black bin the lady on the phone sounded like she is from Mars and she never heard of City of Altadena. I asked to speak General Manager she transferred my call to Thor Schmidt, when Thor the General Manager picked up his phone I told him that I’m missing my black bin, he sounded very clueless and scared for some reason, I would talk then after 10 to 15 second pause he would sound like he does not know anything about anything, it almost sounded like if this was his first day on the job. Today Sept. 4th, 2011 I finally got my black bin. If you have any problems with your service with Athens Services in City of Altadena contract Thor Schmidt at 818-254-5459 or you can email him at TSchmidt@athensservices.com

I had no trouble getting the smaller cans--4 green, 1 each for refuse and recyclables. I ordered them at the meeting Athens held in early August. They were delivered week of August 15.

However, I have to leave them in my driveway in front of garage--no place to store them

Diane--I had 4 32 gall. cans(Rubbermaid) on side of house, one 8-96 gall.(Allied) I had to keep in front of garage and one blue box for recyclables I had to keep on front porch. Now I have the blue and brown containers (32 gallon) in front of garage at top of driveway in plain sight and the 4 green cans sort of on side of house. Every time I want to go into back yard from side gate, I have to move all the cans out of the way. No where else to store them. I have a gardener every other week so one week, I roll cans down driveway and one week they stay put. I'll adjust and I agree with you--they do want to give good service. I just wish I had a place to store cans out of sight.

Diane--I had 4 32 gall. cans(Rubbermaid) on side of house, one 8-96 gall.(Allied) I had to keep in front of garage and one blue box for recyclables I had to keep on front porch. Now I have the blue and brown containers (32 gallon) in front of garage at top of driveway in plain sight and the 4 green cans sort of on side of house. Every time I want to go into back yard from side gate, I have to move all the cans out of the way. No where else to store them. I have a gardener every other week so one week, I roll cans down driveway and one week they stay put. I'll adjust and I agree with you--they do want to give good service. I just wish I had a place to store cans out of sight.