Upgrade recycling

Our Waste-to-Energy Plant could be recycling more efficiently, and possibly making a profit doing it. Yes, they have an area to drop off various recyclables, but what about all the very usable items that are thrown away that are not garbage?

My suggestion: Have an area where people can take their items to be approved for drop-off (so things that are garbage will not wind up there). Either offer those items to the public for free, or sell them, like a secondhand store. Or have employees who observe items being dumped remove them prior to incineration for recycling them back to the public.

Just a few of the items I saw at the incinerator recently were: a nice 12-by-12 wool blend area rug, lots of unbroken children’s toys, new garbage cans, tools, intact and desirable antique furniture, oak chairs and table, Christmas decorations, bedding and pillows still in their original wrapping (price tags attached), lumber, new carpet and pad (large scraps), and clothing galore. The list could go on and on.

All could have been recycled. No matter how they do it, it would be ecologically sound and possibly profitable.

Kelly Sullivan

Spokane