This page was last updated on January 5, 2017.
When did recycling become a dirty word?; Jennifer Kramer (JK); Beaver County Times; January 4, 2017.
Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.
“I am amazed at the lack of recycling going on in our community.”
[RWC] The first two things that came to mind were 1) JK doesn’t take out the garbage, and/or 2) doesn’t know what’s in all those blue or green containers alongside the road on garbage pickup day.
“I work at a popular rental facility and the lack of recycling is astonishing. There is a trash can next to a recycling bin, yet there are always plastic bottles, pop cans, etc., in the trash.
“At local events, such as car shows, book sales and fairs, I never see recycling containers as an option. I see large amounts of cardboard out for the trash when our fire departments and others have recycling bins. These bins provide much needed income for our community volunteers.
“Plastic never breaks down completely. Instead, it turns into particles that pollute the air. Everyone should see a landfill so they understand where their trash is going. There are tons of things that should not be there. A local township doesn’t even provide recycling as an option with their trash service.
“Recycling has been around for a long time. Why is recycling no longer popular? Has it become a dirty word? We need to help the environment in every way we can. Recycling is a no-brainer.”
[RWC] As the result of PA Act 101 (1988), 79% of us have curbside recycling as part of our garbage collection. According to the PA DEP, “Today, more than 11.6 million residents at least 94 percent of the state’s population have access to recycling. About 79 percent have convenient access to recycling through about 1,050 curb-side pickup programs. Since Pennsylvania is largely rural, 870 drop-off programs extend recycling to the greatest number of communities.”
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