Rodents now face totes in town, village
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

Hundreds of garbage totes await distribution last Friday at the Amherst Soccer Complex on North French Road. Tony Pitts is shown preparing one of the town's bins for shipment. Photo by Jim Smerecak Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Green totes lined South Cayuga Street in the Village of Williamsville during Tuesday's garbage pickup, neat and orderly like an army of rodent defenders.

Soon the Town of Amherst will be following suit with its blue totes.

Both municipalities started receiving the totes last week and have been assembling and distributing them to homeowners.

The town expects all 30,000 totes to be delivered by Memorial Day.

"We ask that our residents be patient as the delivery phases will take approximately five weeks," said Interim Senior Refuse Control Officer Charles Moses Jr.. "Initially one 95-gallon tote will be delivered to each residence."

During the second phase, the town will receive a limited number of 65-gallon totes to facilitate the needs of disabled and senior residents.

There have been concerns that taking the totes to the curb would be cumbersome and difficult for some residents, but with the wheels and handle, Moses said it will be easier to pull totes than lifting cans. He added when pushing the totes they remain upright and not pose a burden.

The arrival of the totes has been a long time coming, as many residents have been battling an infestation of rodents. The increase in numbers has been related to Buffalo implementing a tote program, causing rodents to move to surrounding suburbs and the easier pickings of uncovered garbage cans.

"The best way to eliminate food sources for rodents is through the proper storage of your garbage," Moses said. "In order for our rodent program to be effective, however, we need (the residents) help, by eliminating food sources and shelter areas for rodents."

The Town Code has been changed requiring the use of the totes, but there will be some leeway as residents get used to the totes, Moses said.

He said he expects the totes to help alleviate the rodent problem.

"Through the use of these totes we will see a significant reduction in our rodent population," he said.

He reminded residents of other ways to reduce rodents on their property: remove bird feeders, pick up animal waste and remove wood piles and other shelter areas for rodents.

Currently the Town of Tonawanda, and the Village of Kenmore are using the totes.

For information for the town totes, call 631-7119.

The Village of Williamsville has completed its distribution. Call 632-4120 for more information.