Green bins were poorly planned

Re "Compost or chaos? Bins clog L.A. curbs," Nov. 16

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HUGE NUMBERS of green bins have suddenly hit many Los Angeles blocks.

KAYLA BARTKOWSKI Los Angeles Times

THANK you for this much-needed article. The government waste aspect here is outrageous.

My neighborhood recently experienced the unwanted green bin delivery in Miracle Mile. It is strangely heartening to know people in other neighborhoods felt the same.

The city’s (largely unread) flyers said new bins would be delivered to residents unless they called.

If the city’s initial flyers had, instead, said residents could call if they wanted more bins, the city would’ve avoided waste — but wouldn't be able to tout such high “pro-green” numbers.

Meanwhile, there is nothing in Senate Bill 1383 about a need for, or requirement to distribute, green bins.

The city seemingly did not investigate the area-by-area feasibility of this at all. Buildings in areas like Miracle Mile and Koreatown (with tiny yards and driveways) do not need and have nowhere to store this many bins. The unwanted bins will, therefore, be left out on the street and take up parking spots these neighborhoods — desperate for street parking — can't spare.

Each 90-gallon bin costs roughly $58. Multiply that by the 69,000 that are projected to be sent out and that’s $4 million dubiously spent. That doesn’t even count the labor expenses.

And that in the midst of a budget crisis that leaves broken sidewalks unrepaired and streetlights dark for more than a year.

I think Los Angeles Times readers deserve to know which city officials approved this. It lacked coordination or planning — and was beyond wasteful.

BENJAMIN HARDING

Los Angeles