Wait, people DON'T recycle? Its the simplest thing in the world now that there is weekly pickup and no sorting required. My family of six puts out one can a week for trash pickup and one can or more of recyclables. How lazy do you have to be to not put forth the tiniest bit of effort needed to help out the cause?

I recycle, I bought a blue rolling container that hold a lot and makes it easier to collect the recyclable material. While on the city council I proposed the city supplying containers to everyone. The administrations answer was to charge everyone a monthly fee. I didn’t support anymore fee’s and the city didn’t provide any containers. If the city is interested in recycling they would provide suitable containers for little or no cost to the residents.

Andrew, pretty lazy. I live with people who don't...

Thank you PATCH for asking this important question! Many of us who do recycle can do better by being more conscious of the items we purchase. We can purchase food with minimal packaging or reusasable packaging (and reuse it- of course). In order to recycle, we all need to simply change our routines. If your neighbor is not recycling, maybe they would like to learn from you how you set up your home to make it routine to recycle. On the subject of compost: if it could easily rot and turn to dirt (vegetable and fruit scrap)... put it in the corner of your yard! Your garden will benefit from the compost next year. Don't send it to the landfill!

I am surprised to hear that statistic of 12-22 percent as most folks that I know do recycle and the State numbers that I found said 41% recycling rate in 2010. What is the source of that statistic?

maybe the state numbers are better than our town numbers . . . sad. i recycle every week at least a trash can full. idk why people would choose to not recycle. it's not difficult and means alot for the future generations, unless you dont mind your children and grandchildren living in trash piles. just because they come pick up your trash does not mean it disappears! lol we all need to try and teach our family and friends about the difference we can make. it starts with you :D

I work in the Seneca Ave area and I see many residents pulling wagons, riding bikes or walking to the recycling place on Revolution Street to get cash for their cans.

the trash company hold alot of the blame here. On multiple occasions I have reported to the city that they are collecting regular trash and recycling at the same time. The company ofcourse denies this happening. But I have seen it happen more that once.

Barb,
It has been two seperate days in my area for awhile.. regardless the take both.. someone from the city should randomly follow the trucks a few days. I bet you would be surprised what they see.

Janet, The garbage pick up and the recycle pick up are on different days. If one is at the curb the other shouldn't be, so that eliminated the problem of recycles going in the trash stream. Since the County and then the City went to single stream recycling it is easy to do now, but for some reason people continue to find excuses not to recycle.

I am trying to do a better job myself with this. Not perfect but getting better!

if someone were reaching into my fenced yard . . . thats tresspassing right ? put up some barb wire or taze them ;)