Chandler news and views roundup - July 9

A few links for you today on some interesting developments affecting Chandler, Arizona:

1. Trash pickup may go 'green'
City is studying curbside collection of tons of biodegradable yard waste

Chandler could become the second Valley city to offer curbside green waste garbage collection, a move that stands to keep thousands of tons of biodegradable lawn clippings and tree trimmings out of landfills and reduce trash pickup costs.

...Outgoing Chandler Councilwoman Donna Wallace, who leaves office Thursday, has been pushing for a city green waste program for more than a year and lobbied to put $100,000 in the 2006-07 budget for the consultant's study.

"I was just thrilled when it was approved. More than 50 percent of the waste coming into our transfer station is green waste that we can divert and recycle and save money. There is no down side to this," she said.

2. 5 Albertsons-Osco stores in SE Valley to shut down

Five Albertsons-Osco stores will close in about two months in Chandler, Mesa and Gilbert as the company plans to concentrate on its remaining stores.

The closures will leave some strip centers without their anchors and includes a store opened two years ago, the Albertsons at Elliot and Higley roads in Gilbert.

Albertsons came under new ownership Friday and announced Tuesday that it will close nine underperforming stores in the Phoenix area, including five in the Southeast Valley, in early August

3. 15,000 party at Santan Freeway's sunset shindig

An early-evening storm that whipped through the East Valley couldn't dampen the community spirit Wednesday. An estimated 12,000 to 15,000 people came to pound the fresh pavement of the Santan Freeway before it opens to traffic early next week.

The storm let up before the 6 p.m. start, and people came out in droves to create a carnival atmosphere.

4. New book details how CEO rebuilt company
Microchip Technology head turned 'mistake' into success

Overall, the high-tech industry is healthy in Chandler, says Steve Sanghi, CEO of Microchip Technology.

"It's a company-by-company issue," he said. Intel is facing the fact that Dell is scrapping its exclusive contract with Intel and using chips from Intel competitor AMD in Dell computers. Intel stock has been down, and AMD has been gaining market share. But other companies are doing well, he noted.