To recycle or not to recycle

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Rancho El Dorado homeowners participated in a public hearing last night to provide input for a nine member volunteer committee composed of other concerned homeowners. The topic for the evening was recycling, either mandatory or optional in nature.

Dallas Paulsen and Melinda Medina, who serve as resident members of the current Homeowners Association’s declarant board, facilitated the meeting. “One of the hot issues is recycling,” explained Paulsen. “The committee will take input and questions from tonight’s meeting, then come back with a proposal for the board.” The board will make its recommendation by January 14.

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Dallas Paulsen, a member of Rancho El Dorado’s HOA board, was one of the hearing’s facilitators.

According to Medina, the committee met in two different sessions to discuss the two recycling contracts they received. “Homeowners as individuals and at the annual meeting had addressed what the board would do and what actions would be taken in terms of recycling,” she explained.

One of the committee members, Jonathan Pierce, summarized the contracts for the audience.

Maricopa Disposal, a local company under the management of Sherry Smith, offers curbside recycling only at $5 per month per home or $15 per quarter. The company had 56 Rancho El Dorado customers as of December 21. Maricopa Disposal would want a five-year contract for curbside recycling on Tuesdays. Working with Recycling Association of Maricopa (RAM), it takes no glass, plastic or paper with human waste like diapers. RAM does take glass and is a free recycling center.

Waste Management currently is under contract with the HOA for a trash only pick up on Tuesdays and Fridays at a cost of $9.41 per month which is paid annually at a total of $112.92. The current contract expires in April of 2006. Waste Management offers a three-year contract for one day trash and one day recycling at $12.50 per month paid quarterly. It would not take glass, which is a landfill item. For those who do not wish to recycle, there would only be one weekly trash pick up.

An alternative to either recycling contract would be to assess the direction the city of Maricopa plans to take regarding recycling. Committee member Bev Rose explained, “The city has had discussions, but it has no firm plans as yet. This is probably a low priority item for the city due to the many other things on their plate.”

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Committee member Bev Rose explains the City’s position on recycling.

Pierce reiterated the homeowners’ choices, which are to sign a recycling contract, to continue with optional recycling by individual homeowners, or to wait until the declarant board becomes a homeowners’ board in the spring or early summer of this year. Rose cautioned, “Once we have a contract, the option goes away.”

Nancy Smith, speaking from the audience, questioned the urgency of a decision. “We need additional feedback.” There will be 3,196 homes in Rancho El Dorado when it is fully built out, and approximately 35 residents were in attendance at last night’s meeting, excluding the committee.

Resident Bill Smale commented, “It is important to poll every single homeowner. I also don’t understand the urgency.”

Paulsen explained that a mailing to all residents would cost approximately $1,100, and that the committee was leaning toward a ballot to be included in the next HOA billing. “We are trying to involve as many ideas and as many people as possible,” he noted.

Homeowner Sandra Baker-Probasco asked that the committee and board give the city a chance to obtain variances and contracts in the future since residents are facing higher utility bills and taxes. “We have optional recycling and trash pick up. Leave it be.” She also stated that she would like to see all homeowners polled.

All those who spoke at the hearing were in favor of optional recycling. Many asked that the committee recommend waiting for a citywide program, polling all residents and postponing any decision until residents control the homeowners’ association board. Many supported Maricopa Disposal as a local company that hires local residents and pays local taxes.