Residents Suing Seatle over Trash Police (Compost your waste citizen!)

Ah, the recycling police which will be issuing fines. This is funny since the police need a warrant to go through your trash and you have no recourse if they fine you since they don't have to prove it.

The city hired Nine full-time solid waste inspectors (how do you think they are going to pay for these? Fines)


Seattle sued over recycling inspectors keeping tabs on residents' trash

www.king5.com...

www.foxnews.com...

Nine full-time solid waste inspectors have been hired as part of a controversial program to check city trash to make sure people are recycling. Additionally, contracted waste haulers have been effectively deputized as trash police, given the authority to tag bins when people fail to recycle and compost enough.

The program is now the subject of a lawsuit, as residents fume over what some call an intrusive government program.

“I understand people have noble goals,” said Keli Carender, who got tagged two weeks in a row, an offense that soon could bring a fine. “But at some point we have to say, you can’t violate my rights to achieve this noble goal.”

The mandatory composting ordinance calls for fines ranging from $1 to $50 starting Jan. 1. There isn’t an appeals process, because the evidence is hauled away to the landfill.

a reply to: infolurker

originally posted by: infolurker

The mandatory composting ordinance calls for fines ranging from $1 to $50 starting Jan. 1. There isn’t an appeals process, because the evidence is hauled away to the landfill.

But it's for the children!

But seriously you reap what you sow. I've been hearing a lot of rumblings coming from these leftist enclaves. Every day they're creating some new level of bureaucratic bull# to solve a problem that didn't exist the day before.

People seem to be waking up to the idea thay the only thing big government is good at is creating more government to govern the government that is responsible for governing...ad nauseum

Just wait for California to pass the 'If it's yellow let it mellow' law, and began fining households based on their water usage not dropping the expeced percentage lol

Police don't need warrants to go through your trash.

But here's the problem. It was passed already:

Seattle OKs $1 fine for adding too much food to garbage bins

The Seattle City Council passed a new ordinance Monday that could mean $1 fines for people who toss too many table scraps into the trash.

Under current Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) rules, people living in single-family homes are encouraged but not required to dispose of food waste and compostable paper products in compost bins.Under the new rules, collectors can take a cursory look each time they dump trash into a garbage truck. If they see compostable items make up 10 percent or more of the trash, they’ll enter the violation into a computer system their trucks already carry, and will leave a ticket on the garbage bin that says to expect a $1 fine on the next garbage bill.

Apartment buildings and businesses will be subject to the same 10 percent threshold but will get two warnings before they are fined. A third violation will result in a $50 fine. Dumpsters there will be checked by inspectors on a random basis.

www.seattletimes.com...

So basically, they don't want all the food waste in the bins when it could be recycled into compost. A good goal. Too bad Seattle had to pass ordinances for this. It's common sense to compost. The people who don't want a fine should consider separating their compost better.

Seattle is the first city in the nation to fine homeowners for not properly sorting their garbage. The law took effect on Jan. 1 as a bid to keep food out of landfills. Other cities like San Francisco and Vancouver mandate composting, but don't penalize homeowners directly. www.npr.org...

But here's a little insight into Seattle's elected city council members and the year they were first elected to their 4 year terms. Notice how many are re-elects:

1 Jean Godden Democratic 2003
2 Kshama Sawant Socialist Alternative 2013
3 Bruce Harrell Democratic 2007
4 Sally Bagshaw Democratic 2009
5 Tom Rasmussen Democratic 2003
6 Nick Licata Democratic 1997
7 Tim Burgess, Council President Democratic 2007
8 Mike O'Brien Democratic 2009
9 John Okamoto Democratic 2015

a reply to: infolurker

Has anyone actually been fined for not separating their garbage or have they just been given "tags" or warnings?

I guess no one better clean out their refrigerator ...

I love how no one is required to compost. It seems to me that if you are fined for too much waste, then you are pretty much required to compost. I think I'd be all over getting the addresses of the city council members and illegally dumping my extra food waste on their front lawns after my first "not-required" fine.

originally posted by: infolurker
Ah, the recycling police which will be issuing fines. This is funny since the police need a warrant to go through your trash and you have no recourse if they fine you since they don't have to prove it.

The city hired Nine full-time solid waste inspectors (how do you think they are going to pay for these? Fines)


Seattle sued over recycling inspectors keeping tabs on residents' trash

www.king5.com...

www.foxnews.com...

Nine full-time solid waste inspectors have been hired as part of a controversial program to check city trash to make sure people are recycling. Additionally, contracted waste haulers have been effectively deputized as trash police, given the authority to tag bins when people fail to recycle and compost enough.

The program is now the subject of a lawsuit, as residents fume over what some call an intrusive government program.

“I understand people have noble goals,” said Keli Carender, who got tagged two weeks in a row, an offense that soon could bring a fine. “But at some point we have to say, you can’t violate my rights to achieve this noble goal.”

The mandatory composting ordinance calls for fines ranging from $1 to $50 starting Jan. 1. There isn’t an appeals process, because the evidence is hauled away to the landfill.

Und Zere ist nothing wrong vit Ze Staat Kontrolling evry Zing

Avter all, it vork out reel vell in Ze Fatherland, yes?

Grow a small mustache and all will be well.... smh.....

originally posted by: ketsuko
I guess no one better clean out their refrigerator ...

I love how no one is required to compost. It seems to me that if you are fined for too much waste, then you are pretty much required to compost. I think I'd be all over getting the addresses of the city council members and illegally dumping my extra food waste on their front lawns after my first "not-required" fine.

Oh no, those rules NEVER apply to the politicos, only the "little people", politicians are so much better than you.....

Wait a minute...

Don't foodstuffs compost just fine in a landfill?

Don't foodstuffs also aid in composting paper products?

I claim ignorance in these facts but the law as it stands with no appeals process seems like a very lucrative money stream for Seattle.

I think some skunk spray in the trash bins should keep the garbage police away.

Time to vote out the geniuses behind that idea.

a reply to: grey580

I'm waiting for the toilet paper police too, inspecting buttcheeks and making sure you only use one sheet per wipe.

The day you're fined for the trash you put out on the curb while toxic waste is pumped into the ground is the day you prove insanity on a global level.

originally posted by: StoutBroux
Police don't need warrants to go through your trash.

But here's the problem. It was passed already:

Seattle OKs $1 fine for adding too much food to garbage bins

The Seattle City Council passed a new ordinance Monday that could mean $1 fines for people who toss too many table scraps into the trash.

Under current Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) rules, people living in single-family homes are encouraged but not required to dispose of food waste and compostable paper products in compost bins.Under the new rules, collectors can take a cursory look each time they dump trash into a garbage truck. If they see compostable items make up 10 percent or more of the trash, they’ll enter the violation into a computer system their trucks already carry, and will leave a ticket on the garbage bin that says to expect a $1 fine on the next garbage bill.

Apartment buildings and businesses will be subject to the same 10 percent threshold but will get two warnings before they are fined. A third violation will result in a $50 fine. Dumpsters there will be checked by inspectors on a random basis.

www.seattletimes.com...

So basically, they don't want all the food waste in the bins when it could be recycled into compost. A good goal. Too bad Seattle had to pass ordinances for this. It's common sense to compost. The people who don't want a fine should consider separating their compost better.

Seattle is the first city in the nation to fine homeowners for not properly sorting their garbage. The law took effect on Jan. 1 as a bid to keep food out of landfills. Other cities like San Francisco and Vancouver mandate composting, but don't penalize homeowners directly. www.npr.org...

But here's a little insight into Seattle's elected city council members and the year they were first elected to their 4 year terms. Notice how many are re-elects:

1 Jean Godden Democratic 2003
2 Kshama Sawant Socialist Alternative 2013
3 Bruce Harrell Democratic 2007
4 Sally Bagshaw Democratic 2009
5 Tom Rasmussen Democratic 2003
6 Nick Licata Democratic 1997
7 Tim Burgess, Council President Democratic 2007
8 Mike O'Brien Democratic 2009
9 John Okamoto Democratic 2015

edit on Tue Sep 15 2015 by DontTreadOnMe because: trimmed overly long quote IMPORTANT: Using Content From Other Websites on ATS

Do they have a way to measure if your garbage is 10% compostable or more? Or is it, that looks to be 10% or more? Also the businesses and apartments fined? Guess they better put locks on their bins and have their own inspectors. Enjoy Seattle

a reply to: Reallyfolks

I remember that time when trash was for trash.

So between having to sort out all the recyclables and then bag up the rest. Then being confined to only two bags of that. Now Seattle is trying to set a standard for what I can throw out in the rest of those two bags ... I have to wonder ... what exactly are they paying the city garbage service for anymore? They don't appear to actually be picking anything up.

a reply to: Tranceopticalinclined
I'm waiting for the toilet police too

your wait is over, you will obey the Toilet Safety Administration or your toilet privileges will be revoked.

originally posted by: Lipton

Just wait for California to pass the 'If it's yellow let it mellow' law, and began fining households based on their water usage not dropping the expeced percentage lol

Hehe, unless you buy the special "I can use as much water as I want" permit, for like fifty grand or something. Maybe they have like ten water meters put in or something, so it doesn't count as over-use.

I'd rather see an incentive for the cats that got with a composting service than restrictive laws and fines. Typical bureaucracy for bureaucracy's sake. Knock off a few bucks a month from the trash bill for those who go on board with it, I bet you'd get your 'reduction of food in solid waste' wtihout all the rigamarole.

Ofcourse everyone should be recycling as much as they possibly can. I do have one question though.

Does the city collect the compostible material such as grass cuttings and waste food? If so then nobody really has any excuse not to be recycling the matter.

If they don't collect it then that raises many issues, especially for those that don't have a yard.

An above poster asked wether waste food etc will just rot at a waste site. It will yes, but when in large piles (as you will likely have noticed if you do compost), it generates a great amount of heat and some gases when rotting down which could be potentially dangerous when mixed with other types of materials. Another issue is food waste attracts vermin which could become a big problem on big waste sites.

a reply to: infolurker

The landfill near me in TN wants biodegradeable scraps. They cover it up with huge rolls of black fabric and harvest the methane out of it. The building that houses the pump and methane storage tanks has a burn off valve which emits a 12ft tall flame at all times. It is affectionately been nicknamed Mordor by the locals. At night it looks like the eye of sauron. And smells like a pit of orcs.

What about hotels, restaurants, etc.?

They should be held to the same standard.

Wouldn't spraying the trash down with a large amount of Raid eventually solve the problem? Once a few inspectors wind up in the emergency room for chemical exposure they would probably get the message they shouldn't be nosing around in the garbage.

And another thing. Isn't the city doing a fine without a court trial a 14th and 5th amendment violation?

Quote.
"nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

So isn't this a due process violation?