August 31, 2007
Friday PM

I live in Washington where they recycle like mad men and women. There's a recycling tax on tires and all new appliances, in Lakewood at least. While I won't get into all the pros and cons to the exact witting of it as it stands, I think that Ketchikan could one up it.

If the average stove/oven/dishwasher etc., cost $10 to take to the landfill, then start to charge that as the tax and have free acceptance of all old ones so littering would stop! Same for cars -- charge all new cars a $100 tax or whatever tax so it could be scraped and the homes and side roads would get cleaned up. After all a person who's already spending $700 on a new washer can't afford $10? Or, how many thousands on a new car can't handle a $100 recycling tax ?

I don't believe it would only tax the wealthy. I have bought new appliances and I'm by no means wealthy. I know there's the free week of garbage but that's only once a year and apparently Ketchikan needs a better system. I use to pick up trash by my parents' home in the summer for lack of something better to do and even I would find in one day in less than half a mile five jumbo trash bags worth. It's a sad thing that's never ending it seems and something more needs to get done.

Amber Williams-Baldwin
Lakewood, WA

Received August 31, 2007 - Published August 31, 2007

About: "Amber Williams-Baldwin was born and raised in Ketchikan & her husband's a local hometown hero in the Army. Her sons have learned to recycle."

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