Recycling’s Dirty Little Secret”

The following CCTA report appeared in the County Compass newspaper in the May 18-24 edition.

Reprise of “Recycling’s Dirty Little Secret”

by CCTA’s Watchdog Committee Chairman, Hal James

Several counties in eastern North Carolina are struggling with the high cost of re-cycling.  The County Compass recently reported that “a large jump in monies earmarked for recycling survived” in the Pamlico County budget process.  At last Monday’s budget work session of the Craven County Board of Commissioners, the Commissioners voted for a very large increase in the cost for citizens to discard a bag of garbage/trash.  The cost went from $2.25 to $3.00 per bag.  A one-third increase in price!  The one dissenter, Commissioner Jason Jones, voiced concern that more trash would appear on roadsides and in the woods.  You are so right, Commissioner Jones!

Now for the dirty little secret. It was reported that in Pamlico County, many people will simply throw their garbage into the recycle bin which they can do for free.

Recently, I was talking to a friend who shall go nameless, and he told me that he was doing just that!  Here’s the problem, the recycling facility in Greenville will reject contaminated  loads.

It seems to me that all citizens benefit from money spent by taxpayers for garbage and trash removal.  This is much the same as police protection which also benefits us all.  Contrast that with so many government “programs” that benefit specific, small groups of people with monies forcefully taken from us all.  If the burden of paying for this trash and garbage removal were shared by citizens though the taxes paid already, there would be no need for a charge per bag, and our counties would be tidy and clean, not littered.  Nor would there be a need to increase taxes in Craven County.  I have seen the County Manager’s recommended budget, and believe you me, there is no need for a tax increase to meet that expense!

What about your county?  Have you checked to see if it has a dirty little secret, too?

 

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