The Villages Online

Recycling rules are at http://the-villages-online.com/happenings/recycle-rules

Here is a copy of the text of an email I sent to our local government almost a month ago - I have yest to receive the courtesy of a reply. Surprised?????? Dear Sir or Madam: I would like to share some thoughts and constructive criticism with you concerning the newly implemented recycling program. First and foremost I applaud the extensive and aggressive nature of the program and have been eager to see this happen since I purchased my house in Alhambra Village almost three years ago. Unfortunately, the decision to employ clear plastic bags as the medium for residents to use for their recyclables at the curb was a very poor one. Here are the reasons why this was a terrible choice: 1. The required clear plastic bags are quite expensive – I’ve not seen them for less than $2.79 per box excluding sales tax. 2. These Glad bags are packaged 12 to a box which means once sales tax is added the unit cost is .25 cents per bag, and most households will probably use two bags per week – if they comply fully. 3. Residents may balk at the recurring nature of the expense associated with purchasing these bags and as a result compliance may suffer initially and then decrease over time. 4. There is no indication on the Glad box that the bags are biodegradable or if they are recyclable, so a reasonable assumption is that they are neither. I urge the District to consider the use of conventional garbage cans or some variant on that theme as a permanent replacement for the Glad bags. I believe residents will be less inclined to resist the one-time expense they would incur for a sturdy long lasting container than they are/will be resistive to having to repeatedly purchase the special Glad bags. Other gated, golf cart, retirement communities in the area have actually supplied each home with an approved color coded recycling container that is sturdy and reusable over an extended time period. Thank you. Peter C. Cronas 2572 Privada Drive The Villages, FL 32162 p.cronas@gmail.com