Letter to the Editor

City should rethink sanitation, recycling

Friday, February 15, 2013

To the editor:

I was shocked when I read the article in the paper that said the city was paying Knights Disposal over $600,000 just to haul our trash from Blytheville to the county landfill. For me, this is appalling and a total waste of taxpayer funds that is another black mark on the past administration.

Knights' contract runs out in October and this is a good time to rethink our garbage and sanitation problems by putting together a bold move and at the same time, address the issues with our recycling program. Recycling is very important to our city and requires that everyone do their part. More importantly, the city has the opportunity to take a giant leap forward by using that $600,000, along with grants, to establish a commercial recycling center where all of the city's trash can be taken and recycled. This will create a lot of jobs, save on the landfill and make Blytheville a much cleaner city. Going 100 percent green is good for all concerned.

I've sent my ideas to my councilman, as well as talked with him over the phone. I've also sent a copy to the council woman who heads up the recycling project.

What I would like to see is for the citizens of Blytheville to weigh in by contacting your councilman or woman. Your opinion is important, be it for or against. I do know the city can sit back and demand that the citizens do all the work when it comes to recycling, or they can step up and help the citizens recycle. The citizens should not be put into a category that doesn't include the businesses or city government. Recycling has to be 100 percent from everyone or simply left to a volunteer basis for everyone. I will continue to recycle just like many others do now and hope others will see how easy recycling can be if you simply try. Some of my ideas are listed below. Please read them and contact someone on the city council.

1. Recycle all trash collected

2. Use existing factories for recycling center (city-owned property)

3. Use Mississippi County economic development money and acquire

4. Grants to buy equipment and fit existing buildings for use as recycling, center. (Conveyer belts, compactors, etc)

5. Recycle plastic, cardboard, metal, plastic bags, electronics, batteries, tires, etc

6. Use incinerator to burn everything that is not recyclable. We have an incinerator

7. Haul ashes, or residue to landfill ... save on the landfill ... encourage other towns to do the same. Jobs, jobs, jobs.

8. Sell scrap iron directly to Nucor

9. Sell all recyclables, store materials to reach maximum selling potential. Sell in quantities or when price is highest. Have secretary who can do the research on daily basis to maximize selling potential.

10. $600,000 being paid to Knights Disposal can be used to hire people to sort all trash. Look at the number of jobs you'll create

11. Use community service as a tool to pay fines or keep from doing jail time

12. Use jail house labor or community service workers

13. Offer temp jobs for anyone needing extra cash

14. It's simple, you create jobs and recycle all trash.

15. Encourage citizens to bag trash and recyclables in separate bags, but it will all be picked up by the same truck. Eliminate green bags (cost savings).

16. All of this combined might even prove to be a profitable endeavor

17. The city wants to force the citizens into recycling but, every time I tried to acquire green bags, none were available. I think you're paying Nuway recycling for their services. Nuway doesn't take the bull by the horn, they only want what's given to them. ... I carry all my recyclables to Nuway myself ... others do too. The city doesn't encourage businesses to recycle. The city should pick up their trash and recycle it too. The city doesn't recycle it's own trash either.

18. If done right, this will be one of the best things to have happen to Blytheville. Think about it.

William Masterson
Blytheville