HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-16-24 Public comment - S. Osman - Poor Solid Waste Collection SurveyFrom:Zehra Osman
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Poor Solid Waste Collection Survey
Date:Wednesday, February 14, 2024 12:25:34 PM
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Dear City of Bozeman,
We’d like to first thank the city’s solid waste collection service providers for this important
service.
We just participated in the recent solid waste collection program survey. The survey waspoorly designed. There was no opportunity to learn more about the city’s current issues with
the existing system and why these changes might be proposed. For example, you missed anopportunity to educate us on the alternatives for a more environmentally responsible system
within an ecosystem that has bears and other wildlife. There was no way for residents tocomment/communicate issues/problems as we see them. For example, why are all plastics not
included in the current system? Why doesn’t the city recycle glass? Should we avoidpurchasing certain plastic types because they are impossible to recycle or are there options to
recycle them?
The surveys used by the city are biased in the following ways: the way they are sampled,worded, designed, the way responses are tabulated, summarized, and statistically analyzed.
For this reason, all your surveys currently yield biased results that only serve to manipulate thepublic input process to manufacture consent or yield the answer you seek. The City
commission and advisory board members are led to believe there is robust public engagementprocess when this is not the case.
Before the surveys are conducted, take the time to educate us. Let us learn how solid waste
collection works in a city that is part of an ecosystem that has bears. Take the time to conductpublic meetings so that by the time we fill out a survey, we can do so in an educated manner.
Finally, please stop using poorly conducted and designed surveys for the reasons stated in theabove paragraph.
We appreciate the collection service workers and would like to hear their concerns. We love
this city and this is an important issue.
Sincerely,Zehra Osman
Bozeman 59718