Like most of you, I was outraged when I read the news last week that Kent County’s curbside recycling program is due to come to an end on June 25, 2010. One of the things I admired about the county when I moved here five years ago was the progressive environmental attitude of many of the people who live here. I can’t imagine that a place whose county seat markets itself as “Going Green” would end a twenty-year recycling program.
As I talked to friends and co-workers I realized a number of people didn’t even know about the impending change. That the county commissioners (who approved this measure unanimously) would make such a decision on the week of Earth Day suggested to me that either they don’t think we’re paying attention or they just don’t care. This is a community that rallied against a proposed nuclear power plant in Tolchester and a proposed waste incinerator in Massey. We’re one of the few places to successfully turn away a Wal-Mart. Surely the people of this community would make their voices heard in support of curbside recycling.
I decided the first step was to get the message out there. I’m not an activist. I’ve never been to a rally before, much less organized one, but I figured where there’s a social networking site, there’s a way. I started a Facebook page to invite people to gather at Fountain Park this past Saturday to protest the County’s cessation of curbside recycling. Within a few days 800 people had seen the site and 60 agreed to attend the protest. My plan was for everyone to show up dressed as the undead (zombies, grim-reapers, etc.) as symbols of the soon to be deceased curbside recycling program.
I spent my Friday afternoon cutting cardboard boxes into tombstones with phrases like, “R.I.P. Recycling” and “The End Is Near: 6/25/10.” On Saturday morning I dressed in my finest tattered clothes, used shoe polish to form dark circles around my eyes, and gelled out my hair into what I felt was an appropriate zombie quaff. With empty recycling bins and cardboard tombstones in hand, I headed to the park.
I found an unoccupied patch of grass amidst a very bustling Mutt Strut/ Farmer’s Market crowd and began my protest. I soon realized that I was not going to be joined by 59 other protesters. Facebook might be a great tool for starting a discussion, but I found that it can be a bit unreliable as an event coordinator. Throughout the morning I probably had 10 people from that list join me, none dressed as the undead.
However, as a whole, I felt the morning was a success. Even as a lone zombie, the dramatics helped pique people’s interest and I informed many residents who had not yet heard the news. I also met a number of people who, like me, were frustrated and wondering what could be done. It seemed to us that viable alternatives, such as monthly pickups or pickups from neighborhood centers rather than individual residences, were never fully considered. Many people wanted to lend their support, but they weren’t sure how. I encouraged them to let the county commissioners know exactly how they felt. (You can reach William Pickrum, Roy Crow, and Ronald Fithian at 410-778-4600.)
What most encouraged me was a conversation I had at the end of the morning with Chestertown’s mayor, Margo Bailey. She agreed with me that the loss of curbside recycling would be a step backwards for the county and she wasn’t going to let it happen in Chestertown. The most likely solution for town residents will be a reduction in trash pickup from twice a week to once, with the other day dedicated strictly to recycling pickup. This is phenomenal news for residents of Chestertown, but of course it doesn’t resolve the issue for people like me, who live outside of town.
Ford Schumann of Infinity Recycling told me he’ll be meeting with all of Kent County’s mayors to discuss recycling solutions. Ford’s view is that recycling can be cost-effective once you get everyone on board. I suspect the decisions will be greatly influenced by what the mayors hear from their constituents over the next few weeks. It’s no secret that the county is facing a multi-million dollar deficit, decreased tax base, and crippling economic conditions. The easy thing to do would be to end curbside recycling and allow residents to simply throw those materials away.
But, like Gene Davis (a fellow protestor who has driven recycling trucks for the county as well as U.S. Army trucks in Iraq) told me, “The easy thing isn’t always the right thing. In fact, it’s usually the hard thing to do that’s the right thing.”
This Field Guide entry does not deal directly with the waterways, trails, or marshes of Kent County. I chose instead to write about my ventures into the field of public policy. So often it is decisions made there that affect the natural places I love to write about. If those of us who live on the Shore are not willing to lead the charge in safeguarding these resources, who will?
If you want to be a part of the conversation, join us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kent-County-RECYCLES/115913541771572?ref=ts
John says
If you want to be a part of the conversation, join us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kent-County-RECYCLES/115913541771572?ref=ts
Clark says
I hope that Margo can find a way to keep curbside recycling going in Chestertown and that all the towns in Kent County will follow suit. I can understand that it is harder to serve county residents outside of the towns. Igloos may be the best solution Kent County can offer them.
I’m sorry that I missed the zombie appearance at Earth Day.