Stop Waste Program

SCAMMM — Charge you a fee that you have to OPT OUT within a very short window of time. In theory if you miss the 60 day window and you live in your house for 30 years, TOO BAD you will pay an annual fee forever. Let me clarify, this is an optional servies (NOT A TAX) that you cannot exercise your option to decline (unless you happen to catch the fine print. Here is the way out. Cancel your service, then wait a couple of days and start a new service. THEN watch for your opt out window. The trash collector will try to get you not to do this, but it works!

I can’t review what these people do or how well they do it because I don’t know.
What I do know — I received a report in the mail which looked like all the other unwanted junk mail that fills my mailbox. I was about to toss it out (into the recycle bin of course) when I decided to read it first. If I’m reading this correctly they are charging me extra on my garbage bill for this silly report unless I go out of my way to «opt out» of the service.
I absolutely detest any organization that is able to have the default be that I have to pay for their service (that I never asked for in the first place) unless I follow a bunch of steps to opt out. (note: the phone number they give you to opt out is perpetually busy)
Alameda is getting more and more like this with hidden charges for things we don’t need or want being added to our legitimate bills and property taxes etc.
All these kinds of services should be separate and paid for out of voluntary «opt in» programs … not secretly attached to my already ridiculously high existing bills.

Man this program rocks!
Well, it’s actually a conglomerate of programs, check them out!
This is a public agency that works to cut down on waste in Alameda county. Imagine this! A public agency that cuts thru the bull, and actually gets stuff done! They work with the general public, providing info online, at the office, and thru Free workshops, and so much more to help work to solve (or at least put a dent in) the overwhelming problems caused by our over-​consumerist society. KUDOS!
I first found them from a flyer for FREE garden workshops,
check out this series on the Bay Friendly gardening page here.
They also put on the free Bay Friendly Garden Tour each year. Fantastic!
They have classes on composting, basic organic gardening, soils, plants that attract butterflies, bees, etc., organic food gardening, etc.
Very well done, informative, interesting stuff. I learned so much, and it’s all made me such a better gardener, and citizen! Really, not kidding.
The web site also has info on what can be reused and recycled, and where to do this, thoughout Alameda county.
They have tons of free info available, and sell super cheap, reduced price compost and worm bins!
They work with schools to increase recycling.
I can’t say enough, check them out! If this agency were in human form, I’d want to date them! :)