Unfortunately, Lois Bench (Forum, Dec. 4) and some members of the Sandy City Council have overlooked the most important issue regarding automated trash pickup.
Sanitation workers have been disposable employees. They work until their backs give out and then they are disabled for life. The cost of industrial accidents has risen drastically in the pact few years. Utah physicians have just been granted a 9 percent increase in what they will be paid to treat injured employees.Residents may complain about increased costs for garbage pickup, but increased costs for workers' compensation insurance and claims will be paid by increased taxes and the cost will be much higher than the proposed increase for the automated pickup.
Sandy residents have had the luxury of being allowed to haul as much garbage to the curb as we wanted. This truly is a luxury, not a right. For a nominal fee, a trip to the local landfill once or twice a year is an easy solution for Bench's excess garbage.
Bench stated that it is nice to just put out a single bag on the curb for the times when she doesn't have a lot to put out. I think a neighbor wouldn't mind an extra bag in their container.
In those instances where a person is unable to push the container to the curb, the sanitation worker will collect the container.
Please don't let the emotional issues cloud the real issue. Any time a work process can be changed to protect the health and safety of employees in their work environment, aren't we morally obligated to change?
Clarissa Koon
Sandy