To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing in regards to our serious problem of trash and recycling here in Pueblo. I am tired of hearing from everyone that “Pueblo people will not change” and simply using that as an excuse to keep us from changing.  It seems as though the people have tried to make change and we are getting stopped.  When I heard about the We Recycle program, I was very excited to hear that something was actually changing rather than just being talked about.  What could be better than ten dollars a month for curbside, singlestream recycling by an actual reputable, earth conscious organization?  The We Recycle program would be an amazing addition to the Pueblo community yet I have heard that the City Council and Health Department is trying to stop it.  WHY??  Am I misinformed, is this simply a rumor?  It seems to be politics that are getting in our way of recycling, not the people.  Yet it is the people that are getting blamed.   What can we do to help?  What is the reasoning for hindering programs such as We Recycle, or PDQs attempt last year to open their own recycling program?

Give the people of Pueblo some credit.  We WILL change but we must have the chance.  Several people here in Pueblo want to help make this a cleaner, more progressive town.   Recycling does not need to be made mandatory nor do we need “kick backs” or money to be encouraged.  We need convenience and education.  Many people are desperately trying to recycle and becoming very discouraged with having to stack up recyclables in their garage for months until they can transport them to springs or find individual places around town.

Why can’t small things be implemented immediately?  Bins and educational posters could be placed at the Riverwalk and downtown area, coffee shops, bars, reservoir, kayak park, etc.  They could be started in phases even; schools first so that they could be more easily regulated, (people couldn’t just throw their trash in the dumpsters because they would be located inside or locked after business hours).  These things can all be started with minimal money so I am struggling to see a reason why this hasn’t already happened, especially for things that are “easy” to recycle such as paper products, metals and glass.  Is it because of the labor needed to pick up the products?  I know a lot of people that would be willing to help and volunteer if labor is the set back.

It is nearly the season of chili cook offs, Festival Fridays, B street bash, Blues, boats and bbq; these would be excellent venues to show that Pueblo’s City/County Council and health department actually cares and wants to clean up Pueblo!  Try to imagine how much waste is produced at these events….shouldn’t the city be conscious of trying to offset some of that waste by providing places for people to recycle.  These events would also be an excellent, cheap way to educate the public about trash and how we have to live with it forever, because nothing ever really gets “thrown away”.

Has recycling programs in other towns been researched?  I agree that we will never be like Boulder or Fort Collins. (and actually we have much more to offer then either of those towns!)  However, we could gain valuable information from their programs and then decide what would or wouldn’t work for us.  Have Pueblo council members met with council members from these towns to discuss our dilemmas and ideas?  Seems like it would be a good place to start.

I am in no way trying to say that City/County Council or the Health Department has not been working very hard to come up with a solution and I have a lot of respect for what you do for the Pueblo Community.  I simply want to help and want to understand our obstacles and reasons that recycling is not going forward.

Sincerely,

One Frustrated Recycler