How did the City of Claremonts damaged 90-gallon plastic toters end up as palm tree planters?
The story starts with Cynthia VantHul, Environmental Program Coordinator for the city. VantHul had heard good things about CalMAX at CIWMB Board meetings, so she got a catalog. She quickly saw the potential for listing reusable items that were clogging up the city’s maintenance yard. Cynthia placed her first CalMAX listing in Spring, 2000 for 94 creosote-soaked poles that had been used for street lighting (and later replaced with metal ones). In May, her ad was answered by William Sampson of San Diego who wanted the poles to mark the property line of his storage yard. With each pole weighing over 200 pounds, the city was relieved of almost 20 tons of potentially toxic waste. Buoyed with her success, Cynthia placed another CalMAX ad in July, this time for the toters. Both the poles and the toters were free, but pickup was required. She got several calls, but distance was a barrier. However, a successful connection was soon made with businessman Mike Perez of Rancho Perez in Vista. Mike
