My 12-year-old son, Alex Vetter, has been attempting to transform our plastic bottles of recycling into funds to buy his own computer. As parents, we thought this was a good lesson in working hard and earning his own money. As patrons to the grocery stores, we pre-pay the CRV, so really it is like getting our own money back in return.

With rejection at every turn, we are ready to abandon our attempts to recycle in the Valley. Many hours have been spent waiting in line in the hot sun at the recycling center, only to be turned away when it is nearly our turn. Many hours have been spent driving to other recycling centers in the Valley attempting what has become nearly impossible. Why is it so difficult to recycle?

With several days of what we refer to as "The Recycling Run Around," which is the norm in the Valley, we decided if the site was closed again, we would donate our recyclables to a homeless woman who has been standing in line at Ralphs for several days. She has been living outside of the recycling center waiting. Think about how she recycles: She reaches into outdoor trash cans throughout the West Valley and attempts to turn those recyclables into cash. Not an easy job. Upon our arrival, though, we noticed the group had grown and there were other homeless waiting nearby.

When the employee of the recycling center appeared announcing, "The truck didn't come again. No recycling," there were heated words of anger. We quickly decided it was better to leave the site rather than donate our recyclables to anyone, which clearly could have caused more anger to boil over if we chose one homeless woman over the others who have also camped out.

The homeless aren't the only ones attempting to recycle. There are moms arriving in their SUV's, a single man in a Lexus arrived today with a few bags of bottles, a gardener on his lunch break, and families who are attempting to recover some money in recycling fees.

Nothing was worse than the day we watched as a single mom arrived at the recycling center, leaving two little kids in the hot car with the windows open. She stood in line with all of her recycling to make a little money, then she was also turned away. On another day, an elderly couple arrived with their bags of saved recyclables. The elderly man used a walker to maneuver to the line. Overcome by the heat and the wait, the couple finally abandoned their efforts.

Valley residents are trying to do the right thing and recycle their goods. Helping the environment and recouping money, which was paid to encourage recycling, are the main goals. But the programs are not working. Everything associated with recycling discourages residents to attempt what has become impossible. The recycling program needs a complete overhaul.

Where is our Mayor when it comes to recycling efforts? Defending some woman from Telemundo? Maybe it is time for change. I will certainly vote for someone who is willing to go to the recycling sites and attempt the impossible. Let me see you fix the program and recycle a simple bottle: You will have earned my vote!

Link to follow up article:
http://valleynews.com/TheValley/Stories/News/About-Town/Story~338705.aspx