Man Sued For Reducing Waste

"A man who claims to have reduced his waste to nearly nothing out of concern for the environment now faces a lawsuit from San Carlos for canceling his garbage-collection service."

"Eddie House, 53, says he was shocked when he was served with a lawsuit Sunday at his Cedar Street home."

"The lawsuit, filed by San Carlos Deputy City Attorney Linda Noeske in San Mateo Superior Court on Jan. 22, seeks a permanent injunction forcing House to maintain garbage service. City officials are also seeking to recoup from House the costs of the lawsuit."

"The lawsuit claims House broke the city's municipal code requiring all residential, commercial and industrial properties to contract with Allied Waste for pickup at least once a week - a standard requirement in most cities, San Carlos Deputy City Manager Brian Moura said."

"House recycles paper, metal and plastics, regularly hauling them in his pickup truck to a recycling center and collecting the refund, he said. What little backyard waste he generates is ground into powder by his wood chipper and food scraps are either pulverized by his garbage disposal or eaten by his dog. House's larger items are either sold or given to people on Craigslist, he said."

"'I don't understand a city ordinance that requires you to fill up a can. That's downright foolishness,' he said. "