Can’t get no recycling bins, dang.
Yesterday, a pre-sale of the new yellow recycling bins took place in various locations in Baltimore City. Starting in January, cool yellow bins with the Baltimore City logo on them will display Baltimoreans giving a crap. I think it’s awesome. While the ridiculous lines and empty-handedness yesterday were unpleasant, and while it was galling that people bought ten for their neighbors while people who got off their asses and showed up left sans bins, it was nice to see that so many people not only showed up but were willing to wait in lines in the cold for the purpose of recycling. Even though a lot of people were pissed or annoyed (like me), it’s nice to know that so many more people are going to get on board with the new recycling program. Sheila’s spokes-person said that the bins were based on current recycling rates. Masses larger several times over showed up yesterday, and it’s a good sign that Baltimore is moving in a greener direction.
And those bins are pretty. I can’t wait to finally get one.
Even if you’re not a fan of Martin and Sheila, you have to admit that people have been displaying pride in our city under their tenures. Maybe it’s unrelated to them and is a coincidence. I don’t know. Or care. I’m just happy that people care about Baltimore again, even with our sad crime statistics.
December 16th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
It’s no shock that there was more interest than they expected. Other counties have seen a LOT of people VERY interested in recycling so long as it is convenient. Current recycling rates are based on the (relatively) inconvenient approach. I’ve always been an advocate, but once they introduced curbside mixed-together pickup in my area there’s just no reason not to.
December 16th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
I agree with Alex. The current method is ridiculous so we haven’t bothered. Now that we have the gigantic yellow can, we’ll participate. Of course, it will probably be stolen on first (or so) use, but we’ll try.
December 16th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
The old model might not have been so bad if not for the frequent holidays on Mondays, for the more voluminous plastic/metal piles. My neighborhood looked like a junkyard for a day or two after such Mondays. I know people who thought the program was unreliable when they saw the bags around on Tuesday and Wednesday because, like the folks who put the bags out, they forgot about Veterans’ Day and the like. I’ll cop to forgetting once this fall, but I took mine back inside;)
I guess the city did a hell of a job getting the word out. I didn’t get one of those cool cards, though. Or my DPW calendar. Damn it:)
I’m afraid of getting my pretty bin jacked, too, Summer. I want to get two, but my wife thinks I’m crazy, lol.