THE NEW TRASH CARTS ARE HERE

Citizens of Texas City, rejoice! The city’s new rolling trash carts are here. Let the excitement begin. You know January is a really boring month when new garbage cans are a major event. But these aren’t just any containers. These are “strong, well-balanced and not easily turned over by wind or animals.” I know this because it says so in a two-page information sheet sent out by the city. Why, you may be wondering, does it take two pages to tell us this? Well, there’s a lot more we all need to know about using and caring for our new trash cans. Pay attention and feel free to take notes if you want. There could be a pop quiz later. The new “rolling carts” are big – they hold 96 gallons. They’re made partly from plastic recycled by Burbank residents and won’t corrode, deteriorate or rust. Best of all, they’re on wheels. But wait – there’s more! Each one has its own imprinted serial number. I plan to use my i-Phone to take a photo of our number, because if anything happens to it, I want proof. If that sounds silly, wait until you real those two pages of information AND instructions on how to care for, use and maintain them. Trust me, these are high maintenance trash cans. For example, consider the following quote concerning the basic care of our new possessions: “Residents are responsible for keeping their carts clean and odor-free by periodically rinsing them with a little detergent and a garden hose.” Good luck on that happening at my house! And wait until you read the instructions for placement for trash pickup: “Set your cart in the street with the wheels against the curb OR at the edge of the paved street with the front facing the street. Allow at least two feet on the left and right from any obstructions and 1 1/2 feet of space to the rear of the roll cart from any fence, gas meter, telephone pole, utility box, tree, shrub, additional collection container or other potential obstruction.” (No, I didn’t make any of that up. I’m not that creative.) Don’t panic here. There’s a nice photo illustrating this. Just be sure to take the two-pages of instructions along when you set out your trash. And have it out by 7 am the morning of your collection day. You snooze, you lose. And of course there are detailed instructions on how to package your trash. I’d share that with you, but I don’t think I have enough room left in this column. Not to mention that I need to study all the rest of the instructions and other info before our next trash day. Sigh . . .