Editorial

Editorial

Dumpsters ■

The decision by the Board of Supervisors to resume the search for a central site for trash dij-op off and recycling is welcome.

There will no doubt be howls of protest from those . accustomed to being able to deposit trash at the dumpsters at Huntly and Scrabble 24 hours a day 365 days a year, but the county cannot afford the potential liability of this arrangement.

With unmanned sites constantly available it has been impossible to make people follow the rules on what can be put ' in the dumpsters and who can use them! There is always the risk of hazardous waste being put in them and from them into the landfill.

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Having the dumpsters at Huntly and Scrabble and the only recycling center, other than the one at the landfill, outside Washington has also served in some sense to discourage recycling. One site where ordinary trash can be dropped off and recyclables including newspapers deposited should help increase the percentage of citizens who recycle. Unless that happens, the county stands no chance of achieving the 25 percent recycling goal mandated by the state.v

The market for recycled materials is beginning to catch up with the supply. With luck and good planning the market may keep up with an increased supply. This will ultimately save the county money, both by bringing in money for materials recycled and by saving space in the landfill.

The new cell is designed to last about eight years. It will take eight years to pay for it. If it lasts nine or ten years, the county can bank the funds for the next cell and borrow less.

Having a central site that is manned will cost money. The more hours the drop-off site is open and manned the more it will cost. Ultimately citizens have to decide how much convenience they are willing to pay for.