With 225,000 households eligible for city-provided — and homeowner-paid — trash service, the Environmental Services Department (ESD) started a rollout this week of the new, more modern gray containers, which will replace the black bins that have served homeowners more than two decades.
As of Friday, 9,369 new bins had been delivered to more than 7,200 customers.
People living on Ticonderoga Street in Bay Ho, though, reported to NBC 7 that they were not given replacements.
“They took all the black ones, emptied them, and never came back with the gray ones,” said Leisa Bockenhauer.
Bockenhauer and her husband have lived in their Bay Ho home since 2004.
“It’s less than ideal, especially since we’re paying out the nose for trash,” Bockenhauer said.
“Service fees are going up and up and up,” Tom Ford told NBC 7 on Friday.
Ford, his wife and young child are the Bockhauers next-door neighbors.
During the city’s rollout, which started Monday, crews were supposed to pick up the old cans and replace them with gray ones the same day. It’s worked for many homeowners, but there’s been a glitch in the system at some addresses, leaving some with no replacement.
“We know this is a big change, and we’re here to help,” said Jeremy Bauer, assistant director of the city’s environmental services department. “We have a call center available Monday through Friday. We also have a website address sandiego.gov/trash with answers to frequently asked questions. We’re trying to get the word out.”
The new gray bins are part of the city’s new plan, under which homeowners who used to get free pickup are charged for what’s supposed to be better service. The process is expected to take through the start of the new year.
Ford reported to NBC 7 on Friday afternoon that he and his neighbors had received their new gray bins.
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