Posted on 12/05/2008 3:25:12 PM PST by Repeal The 17th
Gwinnett County’s new solid waste management ordinance puts teeth into it. The ordinance provides for a civil fine of $500 for violations, which includes those who fail to “source separate residential recovered materials.” Gwinnett County Commission Chairman Charles Bannister said the move is in line with a state policy that local governments develop plans to reduce solid waste by 25 percent.
“We don’t intend for this to be the garbage gestapo, running around, looking in people’s garbage about what’s there and what’s not there,” said Connie Wiggins, executive director of Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful, which is administering Gwinnett’s waste disposal program. “I believe the fine applies to all categories, and certainly, if we saw excessive abuses of materials being thrown in the garbage.”
Actually, it’s a tax. All recyclables have value and it’s being stolen from the homeowner.
It only has value because of the free forced (slave) labor for cleaning and sorting.
There. Fixed it.
Thanks
Solution: Bag up all your trash however you please, and drop it off in a nearby apartment complex dumpster.
Sounds like a plan!
Contact list for “Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful”
and Gwinnett County Commissioners:
cwiggins@gwinnettcb.org;
smarlatt@gwinnettcb.org;
dpeters@gwinnettcb.org;
swaldo@gwinnettcb.org;
lrickards@gwinnettcb.org;
bamsden@gwinnettcb.org;
bmcdaniel@gwinnettcb.org;
dpeters@gwinnettcb.org;
Charles.Bannister@gwinnettcounty.com;
Lorraine.Green@gwinnettcounty.com;
Bert.Nasuti@gwinnettcounty.com;
Mike.Beaudreau@gwinnettcounty.com;
Kevin.Kenerly@gwinnettcounty.com
Is Gwinnett going t he way of San Francisco?
“Is Gwinnett going the way of San Francisco?”
- - -
It’s sure beginning to feel that way.
-Companies sue county after being forced out by new program-
“Lawsuits were filed in Gwinnett County Superior Court Thursday
against Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful and Gwinnett County...
by former governor Roy Barnes’ law firm that question
Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful’s authorization
to perform governmental functions.
The lawsuit states that Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful is
a private, nonprofit corporations and that the general assembly
of Georgia has not authorized the delegation of governmental
power to a private corporation. The lawsuit reads.
Such delegation is not authorized and is a violation of the
Constitution and laws of this state.”
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http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/main.asp?SectionID=6&SubSectionID=84&ArticleID=53626
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GWINNETT COUNTY: Commissioner waives hearing-
Chairman Charles Bannister waived his preliminary hearing before the
Georgia Ethics Commission on Thursday... Bannister is under investigation
for allegedly paying himself $6,556.19 from campaign funds in
February 2006 for spending listed as “travel and entertainment.”
The commission also alleges Bannister’s campaign reports failed to disclose
the address, occupation and employer of some contributors,
contained accounting errors, and failed to list the affiliation
of political action committees that contributed to his campaign.
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http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2008/12/05/gwxethics.html
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But wait - there’s more!
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Link to “Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful” PDF file:
http://www.gwinnettcbservices.org/Documents/Solid_Waste_Ordinance_2008_2008112050.pdf
-
Fines of up to $500 per day for violations of the code:
...failing to recycle;
...putting your trash out before 7pm the day before collection;
...failing to retrieve your trash bins within 24 hrs of collection;
...etc., etc., etc.
-
http://gov.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0,2668,78006749_79688147_93045017,00.html
-
-Governor Perdue Announces Executive Appointments-
-Tuesday, June 7, 2005-
Connie C. Wiggins, 54, Buford , GA - Wiggins has served as executive director of Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful since 1985. She has worked in the environmental education and solid waste field for 20 years as an elected official, coordinator, and CEO. Wiggins serves as Gwinnett County ‘s Solid Waste and Recycling Director. She is responsible for solid waste planning, overseeing private waste haulers, developing and implementing countywide recycling programs and operating the county’s recycling facility. Wiggins is also co-founder and chair of the Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership, chair of the Georgia Watershed Dams Committee, past president of the Gwinnett Rotary Club and district supervisor of the Gwinnett County Soil & Water Conservation District. Wiggins serves on the Board of Directors of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and is a graduate of Leadership Georgia. She was recently elected to Keep America Beautiful’s National Board of Directors and was honored with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ “Rock” Howard Award. Governor Perdue appointed Wiggins to the Georgia Erosion and Sedimentation Stakeholder Advisory Board in 2004. Wiggins and her husband, Tom, have two children and two grandchildren.
Better yet, dump it in Gwinnett County Commission Chairman Charles Bannister's trash can the night before pickup.
Or maybe just go throw a bunch of recyclables
into his regular trash bin and rat him out for it.
Latest news on the court case seeking an injunction:
-
http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/main.asp?SectionID=6&SubSectionID=84&ArticleID=53798
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Garbage debate heads to court
Arguments continue Friday on Gwinnett’s trash plan
By Jamie Ward - Staff Writer - LAWRENCEVILLE
Two locally owned garbage haulers had their day in court Wednesday to challenge the legality of the county’s new solid waste plan. And the only thing decided by the end of that day was that the haulers, county officials and Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful would all be returning to court Friday at 1:30 p.m.
...
“We’re asking for this preliminary injunction in order to keep the status quo in place,” said the hauler’s attorney, former Gov. Roy Barnes. “We believe the citizens of Gwinnett can look after their own business better than the government, especially as it pertains to garbage.”
...
At one point during the argument concerning legislative authority, attorney Frank Jenkins, representing the county, said, “The county has the right to choose whomever it wants to administer the program.”
...
The plaintiffs took issue with this mentality. Barnes’ contention was, how can a private corporation like Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful have the authority to administer fines and fees related to the county’s solid waste ordinance?
...
By the testimony delivered, it was determined that under the ordinance, the Sheriff could technically deputize employees of Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful, which would then give those employees the authority to act as the “garbage police” for the county. Under the new ordinance, the “garbage police” could then potentially levy $500 fines on residents who weren’t in compliance with the law.
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“I’ve never heard of a private corporation holding police power,” Judge Clark said. “I’ve never seen an ordinance like this one before.”
...
When Jenkins argued that granting the injunction “would wreak havoc on the county for its garbage hauling services,” Judge Clark didn’t seem to be bothered by the potential outcome of that action.
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“Your argument of consequences is falling on deaf ears,” Clark said. “But if what you did is illegal, I will stop it.”
It sounds like Judge Clark has some sense.
Yes, the judge’s remarks thus far are encouraging. The hearing was to continue this morning but I have heard nothing of the outcome.
“...
Residents of unincorporated Gwinnett County may find out in the coming week whether the county’s solid waste program will go on as scheduled Jan. 2, or if a judge will grant an injunction to stop it.
Superior Court Judge Michael Clark on Friday told attorneys in the dispute to submit proposed orders on the case by 5 p.m. Tuesday. The orders will specify how both sides want the judge to decide.
At issue is whether Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful Services, a private, non-profit corporation, can administer the program, which calls for mandatory garbage collection and recycling for some 180,000 residences.
The plaintiffs in the court case contend Gwinnett County abdicated its legislative authority by placing control of waste collection in the hands of a private entity. If the judge issues the injunction, GCBS would be forced to stand aside, along with the two private haulers it has hired to provide the service.
“I believe total chaos would ensue” if the injunction is granted, said Connie Wiggins, president of GCBS and executive director of its non-profit parent, Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful.
...”
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http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/gwinnett/stories/2008/12/12/gwinnett_solid_waste.html
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