Bottle Collectors Make Large Blue Recycling Bins Unnecessary
Posted: Tuesday, June 01, 2010
by Gerry Charbonneau
http://nibblednews.typepad.com
We all try to do our part to beautify the environment and recy cle our aluminum cans, empty bottles, milk and juice containers and newspap ers and magazines. It gives us a feeling of civic pride and achievement as we carry this protected form of refuse out the door and down to the appropriate garbage receptacle. We are doing our part to make a difference in the world.
There is a group of people who on a daily basis monitor both types of refuse containers and who are able to eke out a decent living by removing the recycled material from the receptacle ,taking it in to the local recycling centers and receiving cash payment for their efforts.
These individuals are the more industrious and in a sense financially aggressive street people who have their own daily collection schedules meant to coincide with the dropping off of refuse in both styles of bins.
They have their own specialized tools and devices which allows them to effortlessly open a blue garbage bag, remove the contents, inspect the nature of the item tossed away and then place the item in a special container (usually located on their aluminium push cart or bicycle ) for easy transport to a nearby collection center.
I spoke with a few of these unofficial recycling collectors and they told me that on a good week they can make $300 to $400 tax free income. The type of work is not the most desirable but the income is acceptable to most of these people.
There have been efforts to have the recycle containers play a musical tune whenever someone tosses a recycled item in the container. In Sweden the bin thanks the person for doing such a good job.
The recycle bins serve as unofficial clearing houses for the bottle collectors to gather their pre-sorted booty and head for the nearest recycling center. I suppose they should be applauded for their efforts and aggressiveness.
Municipal leaders should realize that a majority of the outdoor collection receptacles provide a meagre livelihood for these folks and should cut back on their gung ho efforts to place more and more musical garbage containers in our neighbourhoods.
The one issue that needs clarification involves the policing of the bins and the issuing of tickets to those people obviously thwarting the law and making a living off its avails. In the long run why punish homeless people for trying to make ends meet the best way they possibly know how.
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