Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I have heard through the Elgin recycling dropoff "grapevine" that our precinct location will be eliminated.  I have written to our county commissioner, David Glass, to urge reconsideration if 

indeed this is true.

Why something as environmentally obvious is being considered as a cut, is a mystery to me and many others who make weekly use of that drop off. While I understand that $7,000 per month is exorbitant, I do not understand why the conservation of our healthy environment is being put on the chopping block. We all know what will happen to all those plastic bottles and Amazon boxes when you close down the Elgin recycling center. Even as a satellite station for the county, it is a lifeline for families who live outside of the city limits or, in my case, work/ live residents who cannot afford the monthly fee for commercial pick up. I am a photographer and a documentary filmmaker, not a business owner, who chooses to live in the historic district of Elgin. Regardless, we pay taxes to the county and deserve recycling privileges for the future of our children in Elgin, Bastrop and beyond.

Over the years I have pleaded with former commissioner Snowden to let Elgin people know what they can do to make recycling more efficient and less cumbersome. I offer the same volunteer efforts to you, Commissioner Glass, and to your colleagues. There must be a better way to cut costs or provide alternatives for the many, many people who rely on the satellite station in Elgin.

Karen Bernstein

Elgin