Dear editor:
Now that it appears town council plans to go ahead with the “bag tag” program for garbage collection, let’s look at a way to make this simple for everyone.
In one newspaper report, it was stated the Town of Fort Frances hopes to bring in $252,000 in bag tags in 2005. So, why not just charge every residental customer $1.50 per week ($6.50 per month) on their sewer/water bill for “garbage collection?”
There are about 3,400 water bills sent out each month. This would result in revenues of $265,200. Then the town would not have the expense to run this program, which would include the buying and selling of garbage tags, while the taxpayer would not have to go to the Civic Centre to purchase them.
Town council is looking for money, so let’s make it easy for everyone and bill us for garbage collection and carry on as we have been.
With regards to comments that the bag tags might encourage more people to recycle, the problem with the recycle program is that we cannot put as much into the “blue box” as we used to.
When the “blue box” program first started, the streets were lined with boxes on collection day. But when we switched to sending our recyclables to International Falls, the amount we could put in the “blue box” was cut down.
You cannot in pop or beer cases, cereal boxes, egg cartons, milk and juice cartons, shampoo containers, and plastics #3-#5 (this information was taken from a published ad from the Town of Fort Frances).
These are items that we used to put in the “blue box.” So Fort Frances is recycling less because there is less allowed.
Finally, if you feel strongly on this issue, let yourself be heard and write or phone a member of town council.
Thank you,
Doug Jensen
Fort Frances, Ont.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
