The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

To The Eagle:

I noticed a new sign up by the recycling bins stating what is acceptable for recycling. Obviously, it changes things quite a bit. Before, the bins just said plastic, tin, mixed paper and cardboard. Now we learn that tin means crushed cans, with no paper on them. Plastic means only #1-2 designated items. And, if certain items are included, it will designate the whole bin as garbage. So, if cans have paper still on them, or are not crushed; or any cardboard has food residue on it, or if any of the bins have a plastic bag in them, the whole bin is designated as garbage.

So, I guess for as long as the bins have been there, people have thought they were recycling, when the bins were actually just garbage, because no one knew the specifications of what is “recycled.” But the new sign doesn’t help anyone. Why?

Because even if 99 percent of the people do the right thing, and follow instructions, all it takes is one person to have a plastic bag, or cans with paper still on them, or a pizza box with food still on it, to have the whole bin labeled as garbage. The odds are against them being designated recyclable. How many times have 100 percent of the people followed directions completely all of the time? That’s if everyone bothers to read the sign and try and follow its directives. What about people who don’t happen to read it? The recycling bins will just be garbage bins, and people have the illusion they’re contributing to lessening waste going into our dumps.

David Johnson

Puget Island