Garbage about Garbage

There has been a lot of 'garbage' in the local papers this month about garbage and garbage pickup. First the newspaper announced on Feb. 12 that the county had dumped Red Oak and Quality Waste Services, saying the companies had not posted the proper bonds and that they must discontinue service as of April 1.

Then on Feb. 20, Red Oak and Quality posted the required bonds and announced that they had filed the necessary paperwork with the county and that they would continue to operate. (Over 18,000 homeowners - many in our HOA- are customers of the two companies.)

So what should you do if you are a Quality or Red Oak customer? Looks like you have several choices. If you are satisfied with your service as a Quality or Red Oak customer, stick with them. If not, sign up with another company. And watch the Gwinnett Daily Post (or read the newspaper online) to follow the garbage company bonding battle!

Should you want to change your service (no matter what company you may use), below is a list of the companies currently licensed, (excluding Quality and Red Oak)to provide residential garbage service in Gwinnett County, and the minimum level of services they are required to provide.

All residential garbage collection companies in unincorporated Gwinnett County are required to offer the following minimum level of services:

• Weekly curb-side collection of residential waste
  
• Weekly curb-side collection of at least these recyclables: aluminum cans, steel food cans, glass bottles & jars, newspapers & inserts, plastic soda, water, juice, & milk bottles, detergent bottles
  
• Weekly collection of inoperable appliances and discarded furniture at no additional cost (appliances must contain no pollutants)
  
• Collection of yard trinnings (addtional fee charged)

Note: Garbage companies set their own fees. Garbage companies will not remove materials from remodeling or renovation projects.

Residential Garbage Companies (Companies serve all areas of the County unless otherwise noted.)

Allied/Browning-Ferris Industries (BFI)
(770) 339-9393

Robertson Sanitation
(770) 921-7337

Sanitation Solutions - Limited Areas
(770) 886-7323

Southern Sanitation - Limited Areas
(770) 455-8186

Waste Industries
(678) 328-1650

Waste Management of Atlanta - Limited Areas
(404) 794-6707

Waste Pro of Georgia
(770) 777-1447

The Pool Will Open This Summer

For months, the status of the Bay Creek HOA swimming pool for summer 2008 was in doubt, as were community and private pools all over the Georgia. because of the state's severe drought. But thanks to a ruling by the director of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) on Feb. 12, our pool will open as scheduled.

The swimming pool exemption, was granted due to concerns that neglected and partially filled pools could pose risks to public health and safety, according to the EPD Director Carol A. Couch.

Bay Creek HOA plans to open the community pool in May. Details on the pool opening will be announced soon.