As I read the story headlined “The cost of recycling” (Herald, Oct. 25), I commented to myself. “This article is totally bogus, or to be kind, at the very least, filled with a few errors.” First, let me preface, I am a 25-year resident of La Plata County. I have been an avid recycler since long before I moved here.
Don’t get me wrong, the city of Durango has done much in the last 25 years to greatly improve the quantity and quality of the recycling options available to city and county residents. However, to say that county residents are only contributing $100 to $140 per week to the city by using the drop-off site at the Tech Center is obviously inaccurate!
I use the drop-off site approximately once per week, each time contributing $1. I should point out this is $1 more than the city residents are charged per month. Every time I am at the drop-off site, there are several cars there, at least four or five. By my calculation in the 10 minutes I am there once a week, at least $6 is contributed by county residents. If only 12 cars came per hour, that would be $96 per day.
To blame county residents for the $20,000 shortfall is extremely unfair. I say the county should not hand over an additional $60,000 to the city to augment the recycling program. How about raising the city curbside recycling fee by $1 instead? County residents already pay many more times the $13 the city charges for trash pick-up.
Jackie Caudill
Durango
