To the editor,
I work for the Minnesota Department of Corrections running the Sentence to Serve program.
I handle the recycle program for the entire county, from pick up to sorting. I could use your help with some issues.
We accept three things in our trailers: plastic containers and jugs; aluminum and tin cans; and paper.
Plastic bags are not recyclable in our county. People throw these bags in the trailer or fill them up and throw them in. We have to remove each plastic bag out of the recyclables and tear the ones open with items inside. This wastes much of our time every day. When full bags are put in the trailers, they take up more room and the trailers become full quicker and overflow. If the bags were dumped, the recyclables would spread out allowing more room, enabling more people to put their items in.
I dump these trailers in town twice a week and barely keep up. We don’t accept plastic bags, so please don’t put them in the trailers. Plastic bags belong in your garbage.
Also, if a bin is full, please check the other side of the trailer for room. If the trailers are full, please don’t leave items on the steps, bring them to another trailer around town or out to the transfer station where they accept the items for free.
Also, people keep putting glass in or around the trailers. We don’t accept glass, but they do for free at the transfer station, so either bring it out there or throw it away. Glass isn’t recyclable in our county, anyway.
People also stuff their cardboard into our paper bins. We only accept paper, not cardboard, so please don’t put your cereal boxes or other cardboard items in our trailers because much of our time is wasted having to remove the cardboard from the paper each day. They accept cardboard for free at the transfer station.
People are also leaving garbage in or around the trailers. I have no tolerance for this and when you are caught, you will be ticketed for theft of services or littering. If you see someone doing this, please call me at 283-1108 or call your local law enforcement and give them the license plate number of the offender.
Lastly, about every other week, someone keeps putting yard waste, tree branches, and garden waste in the paper bin at the Kmart recycle trailer. You need to stop this immediately. I know that you had cucumbers and rhubarb in your garden and tamarack trees in your yard. Quit now and no charges will be brought. If not, when you are caught, it will not be funny for you anymore. The police and I will be watching for you. If anyone sees the person doing this, contact me at the number above. They like doing it at night.
It is hard enough for me to keep up with my job, please be considerate and recycle wisely.
Keith Knaeble
International Falls, MN
