LETTERS TO THE EDITOR | Don’t make us leave Island Disposal

To the editor: We are opposed to this proposal to require all single-family residence customers of Island Disposal located in unincorporated Island County to pay for a new curbside recycle program because it is unnecessary and is not cost effective.

December 17, 2012 9:00 am

To the editor:

We are opposed to this proposal to require all single-family residence customers of Island Disposal located in unincorporated Island County to pay for a new curbside recycle program because it is unnecessary and is not cost effective.

Curbside recycling is unnecessary in unincorporated Island County.

Island Disposal currently provides dependable and affordable residential trash pickup.

Recycle centers are conveniently located near most shopping centers in Island County.

Most of us deposit recycle material as part of a trip to a store near a recycle center so there is almost no extra time and travel required.

State Department of Ecology ranks Island County recycle rate for 2010 as better than most other counties (17 of 39), so the current voluntary system is working.

Curbside recycling in unincorporated Island County is not cost efficient.

If the cost of this proposal is $11 each month, residential customers like us, with one can weekly service would experience a rate increase of more than 63 percent for additional service that we do not need or want. And we would still need to take our glass to a recycle park!

The current system allows individuals to collect, separate and deliver recycle materials with almost no added time or travel cost. We rarely spend more than five minutes at the recycle park and drive only a few hundred feet out of our way to reach it.

Instead of minimal extra travel for individuals, this proposal would require large trucks traveling all over the island in order to collect recycle materials, and would require hiring people to separate recycle materials which individuals now do voluntarily. How does this make any sense?

Curbside recycling in unincorporated Island County may have unintended consequences.

If this proposal becomes law, some will discontinue Island Disposal service and will make dump runs as necessary to dispose of trash. If a significant number of residents drop residential trash pickup, the cost for residential service could increase for those remaining since the cost of trucks and drivers is relatively fixed.

We do not want to leave Island Disposal. We think they provide good service at a fair price, but we will not willingly buy a service that we do not need or want!

Dick and Joan Caldwell

Island County