Downtown businesses dismayed to find they may have to pay for service. Others upset with the unsightly mess.GreenWaste Recovery, Inc. began providing waste hauling services to the city of Pacific Grove on August 1, 2015. Loose cardboard collection was not part of the previous franchise agreement with Waste Management, so bidders (including GreenWaste Recovery) were not provided any data on this service and the cost was not covered by the rates established by the City Council.

Today, businesses which use this service are dismayed to learn that they have been getting a free ride and are upset that they will likely have to pay for it in the future or transport their own waste cardboard to the recycling center in Marina. As pointed out at the most recent City Council meeting by a representative of GreenWaste Recovery, the market for cardboard for recycling has dropped and it is no longer profitable to provide the pickup service for free.

Some businesses not using cardboard pickup service are upset on at least a couple of fronts: The unsightly pileup of cardboard on sidewalks, which can be seen for blocks; the suggestion by some that everyone be charged for the service even though the larger percentage do not use it. Piles of cardboard are left all week long, sometimes secured from the wind only by a half block of concrete and sometimes not at all. Piles of cardboard encroach on public walking space and blow downhill, toward the Sanctuary.

The Chamber of Commerce and the Business Improvement District are working with the City and GreenWaste to find the best, lowest cost solution for businesses. In the meantime, GreenWaste has agreed to continue providing this services as officials work toward a resolution.

GreenWaste has established a special route to pick up loose cardboard on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The cardboard can be placed in the container provided for recycling. Businesses which have used this service in the past are asked to place tied/bundled cardboard out for collection on Monday and/or Wednesday nights so it is ready for collection by GreenWaste each Tuesday and Thursday.

There will be a meeting to discuss the matter this week, on Thurs., Dec. 17 at 8:30 a.m. at City Council Chambers. The meeting will include representatives from the City and from GreenWaste Recovery.

An informational packet will be provided prior to the meeting and will be available at City Hall and on the City website at: http://www.cityofpacificgrove.org/

City Hall is located at 300 Forest Ave. in Pacific Grove. If you are unable to attend this meeting and would like to submit comments, or for any questions and additional information, please contact Jessica Kahn, Environmental Programs Manager, at (831) 648-3188 or jkahn@cityofpacificgrove.org.