Big Green recycling leads to garbage attracting pests

 Monica Showalter:

Green recycling isn't quite saving the earth the way they said it would.

So here in San Diego, where we are under a state mandate to recycle our green garbage -- food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard clippings -- fresh new environmental problems are abounding.

According to local T.V. station KFMB:

SAN DIEGO — Months after the City of San Diego implemented its new organic waste recycling program, some San Diegans say they’re now dealing with unintended consequences.

People say they’re seeing an explosion of gnats, flies, maggots and other bugs and insects inside their bins.

“Lots of flies doesn’t smell too good," said one San Diegan.

"As soon as I open it up there’s like 4 thousand fruit flies that came up into my face. I think it’s perfect for like yard waste, like leaves, tree trimmings, and things like that, but I don’t know if it’s a good solution for compost especially with the hot weather coming up it's going to get worse," said San Diegan, Nick Adams.

Some people said they’re concerned the waste could attract rodents and other animals.

“We understand it's something that people have to get used to and put into practice," said Director of Environmental Services Department, Renee Robertson.

Did I hear that right? Did she just say we need to get used to having rats and roaches around the old middle-America ranch house now going for a million dollars on the market, with property taxes indexed to it?

I think that's what she's saying, because people are reporting problems because they use the government system.

That green recycling system consists of a big green garbage can for the organic recycling, and a little bucket in state-issued taupe gray with an 1970s avocado-green hinging lid for use indoors to deposit kitchen scraps and used paper towels, which we can set on a counter or on the floor or maybe in a bottom trash cabinet....

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What was the city's pro-offered solution to the sheer grossness of the kitchen bins? KFMB reported:

“The number one thing that all of us can do is use a covered container to store our food scraps and keep inside either under the sink or fridge until the day before collection. And then, only place the food in the bin when its ready for collection," continued Robertson.

Sorry, lady, not going to keep used fish bones in the fridge for a week, taking up valuable refrigerator space when I need a cold drink.

Oh, but wait: We could use the freezer instead:

Homes will also receive plastic pails to place food scraps before being thrown in the bins. Browning suggested the pails be kept in freezers and emptied into bins closer to the collection day to minimize odors, flies and rodents.

“If you get serviced on Tuesday and your cart gets emptied and then you go to throw some food waste in there and it’s 100 degrees, I think we can imagine what’s going to happen there,” she said.

Doesn't everyone have lots of freezer space for seven days worth of these scraps?

The space issue has been noted by this commenter here, back when the scheme was announced:

I don't know the schedule in Santa Barbara, but in Santa Maria only picks up green waste every 2 weeks. I do not have room to compost nor freezer space for food scraps, Having these things for 2 weeks is an invitation to flies and rodents. What a mess to live with. I think this will be a disaster for some of us!

Now we got summer coming, with the blazing hot heat ... and the problems are going to multiply.

Don't think they are going to be nice to resisters to their greenie scheme, either. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune:

The City Council last month took preliminary steps toward meeting the goals of the new state law, which includes fines as large as $10,000 a day per violation for cities that fail to comply.

And citizens aren't exempt, either, they do intend to inspect trash for sufficient gnats and maggots, according to Pacific Beach Monthly....

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There is more.

 Big Green has not come up with a good solution for the handling of waste.  Fining people will not solve the problem.  I suppose putting it down the disposal is out of the question when it comes to Big Green.