Clearly identify the problem before proposing recycling solution

The other day I overheard two recycle bins Mr. Blue and Mrs. Green talking to each other. Mr. Blue said to the Mrs. Green: "I read that North Smithfield's Town Administrator, Paulette Hamilton aided by Raymond Pendergast, director of Public Works, and Donna Kaehler, recycle coordinator have found a solution to the recycling problem."

Green replied "How could they find a solution? I bet they haven't yet identified the problem. Did the three of them do this on their own, or did they have a consultant? Did they ask the town council for advice"?

Blue replied: "The Valley Breeze only mentioned the three of them. The Breeze's article stated that if you put one of us out, either a blue or a green, then you can have one 36-gallon trash bag or can picked-up. If you put both of us out, then you can have two 36-gallon bags or cans picked up. When trash exceeds two 36-gallon containers, then you have to buy special trash bags from the town at $2 each."

Green says: "What about someone who is self employed and brings all the trash and recyclables to the business Dumpster to save the town money? Does that mean that if one trash bag gets put out once a year without a blue or green recycle bin the town won't pick it up?"

Blue replied: "Rules are rules." Mr. Blue went on to say: "I've been talking to some of the other blues and greens in the neighborhood, and some of us think we are too big for our plastic, and others think we are just too small. Let me explain. The ones that think they we are too big say that their owners only fill us up half way."

"Of course," said Mrs. Green, "That's because their owners are elderly and can't carry one of us when we're filled to the top."

Blue asks: "Then what do they do with the extra recyclables?"

Green replied: "They put small amounts in large trash bags so they can easily carry them to curbside. Sometimes they'll have three or four trash bags only a quarter filled." Green said: "I don't know what's going to happen under these new rules, because any more than two bags won't be picked up even if only partially filled."

"Let me finish telling you about the bins who think we are too small," said Blue. "You see there are families in town, some of whom are large families and really civic minded and they recycle just about everything, well sort of. They recycle so much that we blues and greens get overloaded."

"What do they do with the extra bottles, cans, and paper?" asked Green.

Blue replied: "It all goes into trash bags and now they have more than two trash containers curbside, just like the elderly people.

Green said: "Civic minded or not, large family or small, young or old under these new rules two bags is going to be the limit."

Blue said: "I guess they really haven't identified the problem yet.

Green replied: "Just off the top of my opening I'd say there's lots of things that haven't been considered. Did you ever notice right after Christmas how much trash there is? Also, I noticed there's usually extra trash during holiday weeks when trash pick-up is delayed by a day.

Blue replies: "You're right, there's a lot that hasn't been taken into consideration. For instance, residents should get a credit for only putting out one trash bag a week and then during a week when they have three trash bags they could use one of their credits."

Green states: Yeah right, who's going to keep track of that, the guy from Coastal?" You've got to follow the rules, only two bags to a customer unless you pay $2 for a town bag.

Blues said: "Out of necessity people are still going to put out more than two bags."

Green replied: "The extra trash will just sit there and rot, but look at it this way. The local animals and crows will have blast picking and gnawing at the extra bags spreading unsanitary conditions throughout the neighborhood."

In unison both Mr. Blue and Mr. Green said: "I think I'll ask my owner to write a letter to Town Administrator, Paulette Hamilton and ask her to try to identify the problems before providing solutions."

Robert L. Keenan

North Smithfield