Our Viewpoint

The news last week that rising costs are forcing changes to the county’s recycling program really hit home. We have read articles about the amount of plastics in the oceans, the billions of tons of trash in landfills.

We have to admit, we took for granted that the recycling program would be here and we could do a little bit to help the earth. The cuts to the county recycling program are hard. We’re thinking more about consumption (have you noticed local restaurants cutting back on straws unless you specifically ask for one) and waste.

We’re still in the habit of filling our bins with single-wall cardboard and sorting out plastics. But instead of the convenience of a local program, we’re making arrangements with neighbors and friends to haul materials to the big city.

The local changes are a hit, and it’s unfortunate that there can’t be a better solution for everyone involved. The local sites will still take corrugated cardboard and aluminum cans, and we hope people will continue to use that service.