Dear Editor:
I’d like to thank you for your article regarding recycling in Enterprise. I have long heard rumors that the recycle trash was not being recycled but I didn’t realize it was true and to the extent that it is.
It upsets me that the city seems to take on the attitude that it’s not just a problem here, it’s a nationwide problem, therefore we don’t need to try to make a difference. They complain that the items are contaminated yet they provide no public education on what items to place in the bags and how they should be rinsed or cleaned. Perhaps if they could educate the public in some way, even if it is a quarterly slip of paper that lists recyclable items and how to properly rinse them, then they would reduce the amount of contamination.
Other ways could be placing recycle receptacles in designated areas throughout the neighborhoods and downtown where residents can simply take their items and place in the receptacles. Yes, the receptacles would be an initial expense but it would cut out the bags and the pickup other than picking up from the main receptacles.
I think that most people want to recycle and want to make a difference but then the city takes on an attitude that it’s too difficult, and the payback is too small, or a greater problem that someone doesn’t want to do the work to make it happen because that would mean putting in some effort beyond their usual work day.
There are communities throughout the nation that successfully recycle. A little research needs to be done and a lot of effort needs to be pushed to make it happen. I know that a community in Rogers, Ark., is able to successfully recycle to the point they were able to build a youth center from the money they raised. Yes, it is primarily a volunteer organization but there are certainly plenty of people, especially seniors, who are looking for and wanting to volunteer.
I appreciate you reading my rant and pray that the City of Enterprise will work harder to make a difference and harder to look after our community and its future.
Diane Doyle
Enterprise
(2) comments
I agree with Ms. Doyle. In Denver they use industrial size trash containers in apartment and trailer home complexes to collect all recyclable items. Paper, cardboard (to include pizza boxes), cans, plastic etc. all go in the same container and none is put in a landfill due to contamination. This needs to be looked into so the communities efforts to recycle are not just thrown away, after all we are The City of Progress.
Thank you
I have been doing some reading and research on the Recycling issue, and found some surprising facts. One is that the waste management guy in your recent story was telling the truth on the failing economics of recycling some items. The price we can get for paper, cardboard, and aluminum is worth the trouble of recycling them, but plastics is not. So it seems not only our city and county, but a wider scope of governmental units need to revisit the Recycling issue and revise the goals to limit the types of materials and the huge cost differential (cheaper) to place the rest of it in a landfill. There is a long, and very informative New York Times article on this problem that is worth everyone's time to read. Here is the link: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/04/opinion/sunday/the-reign-of-recycling.html
Perhaps this will help inform our decisions on Recycling going forward. Clearly more attention needs to be paid to the subject, not ignoring and hiding the issue in hopes it will go away. Most people want to do the right thing, but exactly what is that, given the latest information? Hopefully our local officials take this opportunity to be on the cutting edge of this issue, and the City of Progress can set the example. I hope so.
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