Disposer Ordinance Sent To Committee
The Raleigh City Council met today and agreed to send the current ordinance banning the new installation and replacements of garbage disposers to a committee for further review. At this point, the ban is not a done deal.
Jerry Ryder, president of In-Sink-Erator, first addressed the council and stated that research by both his company and by many skeptical municipalities has shown no statistical correlation between sewer line fats/oils/grease (FOG) and disposer use. He also stated that he knows of no other municipalities that ban disposers.
During the meeting Mayor Meeker thankfully clarified the $25,000 fine rumor by stating that this fine is “our standard fine for doing something horrible like putting radioactive waste in the sewer.” The city manager responded by saying that a violation of the ordinance will be treated as a violation and (non-specific) fines would follow for non-compliance.
Here is a rundown of some of the councilors’ points:
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Councilor Isley stated that Raleigh is becoming a city of “you can’t do this, you can’t
do that.” He also questioned the health of our aging sewer system and cited that of the 48 sewer accidents last year, only a quarter of them came from residential-only sewer lines. - Councilor West publicly stated support of the motion to committee.
- Councilor Crowder stated that this ban is the only logical next step toward healthy water. He then presented Councilor Isley with a composting kit. (He did not address that fats are not appropriate in composting operations)
- Councilor McFarlane addressed the failure of communication of the ordinance to affected nearby municipalities.
- Councilor Baldwin stated that during the original discussion, which only lasted 4:10, she had a “gut feeling” that they were moving too hastily. She now confirms her feelings and wants further review along with better education about using the system.
- Councilor Koopman stated that “we are at war” with soldiers living in less than ideal conditions and it is “our duty” to “suck it up once in a while”. (Koopman defeated Jesse Taliaferro in the recent election.)
A speaker from the NC Division of Water Quality
Dean Naujoks, of the Neuse River Foundation, spoke of the need for better water quality and the health problems caused by sewage spills. While he offered no evidence linking garbage disposers to fat/oil/grease accumulation in sewers, he did remind the council of the dangers to old people, women, and children. He then added:
You know, when we say that we’re opposed to bans on garbage disposals I think what people are really saying, maybe they don’t understand it, but what they’re really saying is that they are comfortable with fish kills, algae blooms, pollution in our drinking water supplies closing our shellfish grounds, and that it’s OK for millions of people to get sick every single year.
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March 18th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
“He then presented Councilor Isley with a composting kit. (He did not address that fats are not appropriate in composting operations)”
Hmmm… that doesn’t sound childish at all. I’m pretty sure if he did that to all of the taxpayers who share Councilor Isley’s senitments he’d have one heck of a butt-kicking coming his way…
March 19th, 2008 at 9:38 am
^Childish? Nah. Snarky, yes. But when someone’s whining endlessly like Isley typically does, what else can you do?
March 19th, 2008 at 11:43 am
I am glad Isley expressed his opinion, without fearing the “majority” in the City Council, because this is the view of most people I know. What’s next, dig a hole in the ground to take a dump (excuse my language)? Glad to know that James West also expressed some concerns similar to Philip Isley, although he doesn’t have the stomach to stand up and tell certain council members what to do with the jar.
With that having been said, this measure upsets me because there seems to be a pattern here, where the city leaders try to put more and more restrictions, at the same time. First they tell me how big my new house has to be - no, I am not building one, nor I am planning on doing so any time soon - as if we need to spend our lives in 1200sf-1500sf homes. I am all for good, well-managed growth, and maintaining (or better, improving) the character of our neighborhoods, but even good measures need to be introduced at a pace the local population can absorb.
Sorry for the ranting…
March 19th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
i said it when the CC elections this past year happened and people on another web site kept saing “how do we get Isley out of there” and I stated “I want Isley there to help counter act this council from running crazy” and I think I was right. It just appears that the people who put them in office are whispering in their ears saying “we need this” and they put it forward and the citizens say “WTF !!”
March 20th, 2008 at 9:55 am
I am glad to see Mary Ann Baldwin backpedaling faster than a kid with their first 10-speed bike. She admitted on the radio yesterday that it was a huge mistake to vote on something before researching the issue. REALLY!!!! I know this is a part-time job for these people but get it together. Maybe if they didn’t take our twice-a-week garbage collection away this wouldn’t have been such a big deal.
March 21st, 2008 at 7:11 pm
This ordinance turns the citizenry into amateur KGB agents. With a $25,000 per day fine, I’m sure those who install or replace their garbage disposals after the ban could be pretty scared to let anyone know. But instead of being scared, have fun with this. When coworkers ask what you did over the weekend, non-chalantly say “oh, my damn garbage disposal broke this weekend. I spent most of the weekend replacing the damn thing. The local box store was out and I had to drive all the way out to Clayton to get one…” (of course, only say this if you did not fix or replace it). Then simply sit back and wait for the fireworks to begin. Perhaps after enough false alarm inspections, the city will realize that the whole issue is stupid and give citizens back their right to bear garbage disposals.