Find a way to keep city recycling

To the editor:

I don’t want to lose recycling in Portland.

There are a few empty buildings in Portland with loading docks, and the $52,649.83 could buy some balers to process the recyclables. The money was donated for recycling.

We are housing prisoners at Jay County Jail who could be utilized to sort and bale the recyclables which are collected, instead of just laying around all day at our expense.

The thought has always been in my mind that if these inmates had something to occupy their time and their minds during the day it might help them understand the error of their ways. I know if they sorted and baled recyclables for about eight hours a day, they would sleep good at night. I know because I’ve done it.

This could be a joint effort between the solid waste management district and the City of Portland.

A lot of people in Portland want to recycle. There was proof of that when my sons started the recycling lot in town a few years ago. They had hardly started when the lot was piled with boxes and bags of cans, jugs, glass bottles and what have you.

Of course there will always be a few who won’t recycle. I guess they are not old enough to remember the recycling during World War II that helped so much to win that war.

Recycling doesn’t make much money, but as the city found out, it saved money on the landfill bill. That seems the same as making money.

Sincerely,

Susie Martin

Portland