Shutting lids does not seem like
a problem to me.

Shutting lids is more work for the collectors, and they have a lot to do. Also, leaving the lids open shows that the collectors have come and I can take in the bin. I understand that it is work for the residents to empty the water out, and the new trash bins are not small or light. Rain is not a problem every week, although when it happens it does put water inside the bin. I have more of a problem with the collectors just throwing the empty bins around and blocking our narrow sidewalks and possibly damaging the bin (especially smaller compost bins). I often have to move empty bins that block the sidewalk that I am trying to walk along. Again, the collectors are in a hurry, so I understand why they do this. Not an easy job.

As resident and taxpayer, I prefer a complete and sanitary rather than partial insanity service. Please remember it used to be called Sanitation Services. Please escalate as you need given the reservations you have about being able to have the operators close the lids as standard operating procedure to get the administrative support from Direction oF DPW and City Hall.

Oh Sorry … about the typo. I strongly prefer a complete & sanitary rather than a partial UnSanitary service with unsatisfactory result. And, please consider that the larger profile of bins with lid open lid makes for wider obstruction by the bins in the sidewalk and detracts from City being pleasantly walkable on trash days and hinders users of carts, wheelchairs and strollers. This should not be about the inconvenience to service providers though of course there should be administrative support and recognition of the difference in the time it takes to do a complete rather than incomplete job. I will spare you the video of me with my infirmities tipping over the bins to drain the rainwater and righting them again.

Hi Margaret, you always do a great job with responses and I appreciate you providing perspective from your role and appreciate you efforts to prevent roque cluttering of sidewalks, a definite concern I left our just to stay on track about the LIDS. Ultimately this is a higher level management issue about the quality of service and standards for services. I am just pointing out that a complete job includes closing the lids. I don’t see how anyone would skip it unless they are under operational duress. If there are real issues these require administrative and directorial attention to redress. I could imagine a number of solutions, e.g., a secondary crew following to shut lids, on foot (and array bins so they don’t clutter sidewalk), followed by Supervisor until program adjustment to this becomes routine. I am not a professional in this area exactly but do pay taxes to a city with high capabilities and maturity level.

Really,it’s better for the containers get a little air and evaporation effect to minimize germ and odor build up.

Issue 13608416 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue.

Issue 13608321 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue.

City Hall - FG assigned this issue to Public Works - JN (Operations)

This issue was recategorized from Other to DPW Trash Request (Internal).

City of Cambridge assigned this issue to Public Works - LM (Sanitation)

Public Works - JN (Operations) assigned this issue to Public Works - JF (Sanitation)

The lid-closing issue aside (and I agree that the open ones are a sidewalk obstruction, etc.), how would the city feel about residents installing drain valves to allow letting water out of the larger containers without having to turn them over? Since some of these bins --especially some models of the compost bins-- take on water in the rain even when their covers are securely closed, such valves might be useful post-storm as well.

A neighbor with whom I discussed this suggested drain holes could attract rats due to odor of drained liquid, and could reduce structural integrity and void warranty. There’s a statement on the bins not to roll them without the lids being shut but not whether this is primarily for stability/safety to prevent inadvertently tipping over the bin or for maintaining structural integrity by reducing torsion to the barrel, as lid closed condition would do. So it may also be about preserving our investment. Please escalate to City Hall, to our City Counsel and Councilors, who would poll their constituents and task Director of DPW, Department of Health and Disabilities, Elder Affairs and Complete Streets, Procurement re. Warranty and weather re frequency of snow and rain, with pros and cons of lids open versus closed by sanitation workers after emptying contents in trash day.

Mostly agree with the comment above, but three observations: (i) I did not suggest "drain holes" but, instead, "drain valves", i.e., arrangements that can be opened or closed and that, if closed, would presumably be no more of a rat-attractant than turning the bin over and dumping its contents on the sidewalk or street. Such valves would, of course, be a good idea only if installed and used properly. If one could not assume that residents who put them in would do that (and would choose, ideally with guidance from the city, the right valves and valve locations) I agree it would be a bad idea. (ii) if one were concerned about structural integrity, having the lids left open during heavy rains with the expectation of residents turning them over and draining them before they are moved is probably not the best of ideas either, both because the turning-over process is probably not ideal from a structural standpoint and because, labels or no labels, there are no guarantees that residents will remember to close the lids before moving the barrels rather than moving them and then shutting the lids. (iii) Finally, while the recycling and (new) trash bins seem fairly good. at least an early version of the compost bins seems to accumulate significant water in heavy rains even when the lids are closed and locked. The City might want to consider what, if anything, to do about that, especially since inverting them to drain the water off once there are one or more compost bags already in them could cause its own set of problems.

Yes, in regard to residents coming home late and having to turn over the large recycling bins to drain accumulated rain water, let’s run this by elder affairs and disability rights groups and committees, too. Also from product investment and warranty perspective, the trash cans are imprinted with a notice to refrain from moving the bins if the lids are open, I believe it may be that resistance to torsion is diminished. I noticed several of our bins are damaged probably from the indiscriminate handling of rushed operators. It’s a city council and management and supervision issue, and requires review of contracts and instructions.