The Carbon County Office of Solid Waste has been busy the last few days removing the blue bins used for recycling paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, and other material. Later this month the Office of Solid Waste will itself be disbanded in one of the most short-sighted government actions I have ever seen.
Scores of residents will drive to their recycling bins in Mahoning or Parryville or other locations throughout the county and find an empty space. Some townships, such as Towamensing and Lower Towamensing, will continue some types of recycling, but much of the waste that had been recycled will end up in landfills.
Even more amazing, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has been reminding consumers and businesses that as of January 24, they could no longer put electronic devices in their trash. This is a result of a law passed by the Pennsylvania legislature in 2010 stating that computers, laptops, and televisions must be handled separately from regular trash. In Carbon County, we have no method of disposing such material. I have no idea what we will do with this type of trash, but I’m sure many people will dump it illegally.
If the program is restarted, and at some point I predict it will be, then we will have the additional cost of replacing the bins and the additional problem of the re-education of our citizens. What a waste.
This is a crying shame. I always thought that many Pennsylvania residents are responsible In getting rid of various waste material. I know it wasn't always that way. Hopefully wiser heads prevail.
ReplyDeleteHere in Illinois we have a very good recycling program. At least in the Chicagoland area. It is all factored into our garbage bill. It is a very reasonable rate. We have the usual two bins. Garbage and recycling. I might say that 80% of our waste goes into recycling, if not more.
In regards to electronic waste, the township has one Saturday a month where you can get rid of all your electronic junk. I might say that it is about the only good thing that the township does. We can also take some electronics to Best Buy for recycling.
Motor oil can be taken to the oil change facilities. It is a state mandate. They love taking it because they recycle the oil.
I cannot believe that the other townships and municipalities in Carbon would not want to contribute to this program. In the end we are all going to pay anyway. As the garbage dumping fees increase to them they will be forced to raise the annual garbage costs to the resident's.
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