Dear City Council Members,
As a small business owner in Downtown Menlo Park, I am writing to bring to your attention ongoing issues Ive experienced with Recology over the nearly 12 years Ive operated in this community.
Unfortunately, it has become a recurring problem that, nearly every month, Recology fails to pick up either my recycling or trash at least once or twice. This inconsistency in service is incredibly frustrating, and the response from Recologys team has been largely apathetic. When I inquire about potential solutions, I rarely receive a satisfactory response, which only adds to my frustration.
Compounding this issue is the fact that Recologys rates have continued to rise, despite the service problems. When I first set up my service, the monthly fee was $38.00, and it remained stable for several years. However, the rate has now increased to $104.46—more than two and a half times the original cost. Most of this increase has occurred in the past few years, making it even more concerning.
Given that the Menlo Park City Council has approved these rate hikes and designated Recology as the sole waste collector for the area, I believe it is essential for the Council to take action. I respectfully request that the City Council consider instituting more stringent oversight of Recology’s rates and service quality. Perhaps even implementing fines for repeated failures to collect waste as scheduled that would be automatically deducted from the monthly bill. You really have to hit where the pocket book is in this situation to get results.
While I understand that occasional service disruptions can occur, the frequency of missed pickups—once or twice a month over several years—is unacceptable. I urge the City Council to address this issue and hold Recology accountable for the quality of service they provide to our community.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Thank you,
Keith Quiggins
[https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fstatic1.squarespace.com%2fstatic%2f5e961f0085d0e104a500f887%2ft%2f5ed6ee7fe529096244112ad8%2f1591143930281%2f%3fformat%3d750w&c=E,1,9x52MyjCq_3Hy0msz2J6YzxzPMCitqPY_ZX_z4OBBmwfneTUmsaYKaeeBOr8A543BqDEfscVIxKxmqWgg2N7brVsqljMhmQrbhH41ffb2drb9o4oJgcI&typo=1]
844 Santa Cruz Ave. • Menlo Park, CA 94025
Office: 650.308.9690 • Cell: 650.242.6804
