Confusion over a barrel in Lynn

LYNN – It?s not set to start until Dec. 1, but confusion is already gripping the city?s new automated trash-collection system, with Public Works Commissioner Andrew Hall acknowledging that “hundreds” of people mistakenly placed trash in the new, green trash and recycling bins over the last two weeks.?People didn?t follow directions – they are not supposed to be used until Dec. 1,” Hall said Friday.Several local Spanish-speaking residents and a city councilor said city officials need to make sure the city?s non-English-speaking residents understand rules that will be in place – and eventually enforced – once automated collection begins.Residents in buildings with six or fewer units will place the bins curbside on regularly-scheduled collection days. Each unit will have a 96-gallon bin for recyclable items (to be collected every other week) and a 64-gallon one for trash (weekly).Workers for Waste Management, the city?s trash contractor, will drive trucks equipped with mechanical hooks to scoop up and empty the bins. Waste Management is making arrangements to have “overflow” trash bags sold in local stores and extra bins available for rental, but large or “bulk” items will not be collected unless residents call Waste Management and pay $20 for removal.Hall said two-thirds of the city?s residents have received the big green bins and the remainder are scheduled to be dropped off in front of homes or apartment buildings by the end of next week. A “comprehensive guide” explaining automated trash collection will be mailed by Nov. 17 and a similar explanation on the city website will be translated into other languages.Councilor at large Hong Net said fellow Human Rights Commission members can help reach out to non-English speakers in the city, including residents speaking Spanish and some African languages.?They can go back and inform their community members,” Net said.Edison Gutierrez said his Whiting Street neighbors have yet to receive bins and said some of them, including non-English speakers, discarded an initial brochure on the new collection system after it arrived in the mail.?Not everyone is taking it that seriously,” Gutierrez said.He thinks automated collection will reduce or, hopefully, eliminate the city?s rat problem, but Eddy Mkusa worries the 64-gallon trash bins could be too small to hold the garbage his household generates.?I?ll try to squeeze it in,” he said.Miosotis Cintron said she has translated brochures mailed to residents explaining automated collection so that non-English-speaking friends understand them. Discussions with friends, including one who lives on Hamilton Avenue, convinced her the city needs to do more to educate Russian, Spanish, Cambodian and French-Creole residents about the new collection system.?There?s a lack of communication from the mayor. She knows the number of people who speak different languages. I don?t think they planned this really good,” Cintron said.Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy said Friday her Khmer-speaking aide, A.J. Saing, is informing Cambodian residents about the trash program, and noted that information sent out by Waste Management included a Spanish translation.Hall said a Spanish-speaker hired by Public Works will begin producing informational videos “translatable into any number of languages” this week. The videos will be added to the city website.?We?re trying to reach everybody in as many languages as possible. I think we?re doing a great job getting the message out,” Kennedy said.Milagros Funez is happy with the new trash system and said she has managed to explain it to friends who only speak Spanish.?It?s good to keep the city clean,” she said.