“Viewpoints” is a place on Chapelboro where local people are encouraged to share their unique perspectives on issues affecting our community. If you’d like to contribute a column on an issue you’re concerned about, interesting happenings around town, reflections on local life — or anything else — send a submission to viewpoints@wchl.com.

 

Planned Closing of Salvage Sheds on Sundays

A perspective from Blair Pollock

 

Since the advent of staffed waste and recycling centers in 1993, a spot has been provided at most centers for free exchange of usable goods.

These salvage sheds are well-used and popular with the public, but come July 1,2024 they are to be closed Sundays for cleaning and maintenance according to the Orange County Solid Waste Department website.

This is not necessary and interferes with free exchange of goods especially  on a busy weekend day.

  1. Sheds are already emptied nightly of everything.
  2. The sites are all closed Wednesdays in part for maintenance already. Some are also closed Monday & Thursday.
  3. It does not take five hours to clean and maintain sheds – sites are open 1-6 pm Sundays now.
  4. The County is engaged in a solid waste planning process that prioritizes “zero waste” so closing the sheds in a busy day is antithetical to that goal.

Granted that only about 70% of goods incoming go out and about 30% are trashed or unuseful and there is some periodic conflict among users but still the sheds should remain open Sundays. They are a valuable community resource.


“Viewpoints” on Chapelboro is a recurring series of community-submitted opinion columns. All thoughts, ideas, opinions and expressions in this series are those of the author, and do not reflect the work or reporting of 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com.