Date: 1/22/2020
There have been more than enough comments about the new trash barrels in Longmeadow but I must add one more voice on that subject.
1. The design of the trash barrels is inferior. I have no negative comments concerning Mr. Gold's very long and detailed letter in The Reminder about the need for less trash. I was a conservationist before some of you were born. So I have no problem with deciding how much garbage can be thrown out each week. This has nothing to do with the recyclable items on which there is no limit.
The trash barrel lids do not fit snugly on everyone's. Mine is one of them. Because of this, animals can possibly move the top and get into the garbage. We were told that the lids would eventually fit snugly. Wrong, at least on mine. And to the person who suggested using a blow dryer to help the lid fit, that is ridiculous. Certainly the taxes we pay to live in Longmeadow would preclude that.
2. The design with the height of the container and the narrowness of the bottom make it very difficult for someone like me who is older and not tall enough to reach into the bottom if I have to take something out. I have to roll the container on its side to do this, also not appropriate for people as they age or for anyone actually.
3. The wheels are also a problem for me. It is not easy with the way they are constructed for me to roll down and back the barrels on the hill on which I live.
Basically, I think the Town took the cheap way out by buying what it did. It’s actually shameful. The town should have refused the shipment when it was seen what these items looked like and how they were not well made.
We moved here in 1973 and are in the same house. For all these years, we have provided our own barrels as we all have. We never had a problem with any of them except this latest barrel that we are compelled to use. All the barrels we have had were shorter and rounder and never a problem.
Just as an aside though there is probably no solution – it is not fair that people with large families have to limit their garbage as much as smaller families. We have been a smaller family but I feel badly for people with having the same limit that we do. As I said, I don't know a good solution for this.
Carol L. Sachs
Longmeadow
