The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. We welcome supporting or opposing views on any published item. Received July 29, 2022.
As a member of the Haddam Sustainability Committee, I was invited to attend the July 26, 2022 meeting of the Haddam Parks and Recreation Commission to discuss ways to improve recycling at our town parks. I am very grateful to Commission Chairman Jason Lonergan, Vice Chair Jen O’Neal and members David Law and Peter Christopher for their willingness to begin a conversation on this important matter.
As much as this is a thank-you note to Park & Rec, it is also meant as a wake-up call to all who use our parks and dispose of their trash without giving a thought to recycling. At the Great Hills Complex, for example, there have been, at several locations in the park, two barrels side by side for some time, a gray one for regular trash, a blue one for recyclables. As you can imagine, park users generate numerous water, soda, Gatorade and juice bottles and cans that should be tossed into the blue barrel but, all too often, are mixed in with regular trash. And the reverse happens with the blue barrel, which, all too often, is full of trash other than aluminum, glass and plastic.
The solution we talked about with the Commission would involve the purchase of more clearly marked recycling barrels that are shaped so that only bottles and cans would fit through the opening in the top of them.
But more important than any new receptacles is your cooperation when disposing of trash at our parks. It starts with caring about this, acting on it and making sure other park users cooperate as well. Please help us help.
Joanne Nesti, Haddam Sustainability Committee
