I do not think Mr. Cheatham is ... accurate.

ASK THE ADVOCATE

Every Monday through Friday, The Advocate will answer questions from its readers. One question will be answered per day. Send questions to asktheadvocate@theadvocate.com.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Q: For some weeks, I have noted the absence of the special recycle collection truck with the grabber side arm that would empty the recycle bin into the truck and replace the bin curbside. This truck had a single operator. Instead, there has been a “regular” trash truck with a crew of three, with two fellows manually dumping the often heavy recycle bins into the truck. When the bin is loaded with magazines and paper, it can be very heavy. The manual dumping of the recycle bin is resulting in deep gouges on the sides of the bin and will probably greatly reduce the life span of the bin. When the bin can no longer be used, will a replacement be provided and the old one recycled?

A: Steven Cheatham, vice president of The Recycling Foundation, wrote in an e-mailed answer that the curbside recycling has always been collected with regular garbage trucks. 

“The Recycling Foundation does this for many reasons.  First, the manual collection allows us to also collect the cardboard boxes that are left beside the carts. With automated collection the only materials that are collected are those that fit inside of the cart,” Cheatham wrote.

“Secondly, it allows us to examine the materials in a cart to see if they are recyclable.  If they are not we will not collect the cart, but will leave an informational tag. Thirdly, it helps the environment because we are able to collect the route only going down a street one time instead of having to work both sides,” Cheatham wrote.

“We have had several conversations with the cart manufacturer concerning scratches and gouges on the carts due to our collection method. They have assured us that structurally this is not harming the cart and that our method of collection is actually better for the carts.  They have far more warranty claims and damaged carts from the automated ‘arm’ collection than from manual collection.  The carts have a 10-year warranty, so any cart that is damaged beyond use is covered under that warranty if the damage occurs in normal wear and tear,” he wrote.

If the bin is not useable because of defective manufacturing then it is replaced, he wrote. When the carts are recovered they are recycled, he wrote.

My first poll at Toluna.com

So where were you at durring the terrorist attacks on September 11th 2001?

Originally posted at Toluna.com ...

I was working in Linden, New Jersey. Word spread that something was happening at the World Trade Center. We could seen the smoke from the first tower that was hit. Later, when I went back there was just a huge column of dust and smoke so I thought the towers were still there. A short while after the towers had collapsed, we found out from various media that they were gone.

After another hour or two, I went to one of the offices of the Tri-County Chapter of the American Red Cross where, among other things, I watched the sole remaining broadcast television station, ABC, and collated information for the chapter's use. After nine hours of that, I couldn't watch anymore and checked out of the chapter office.

I recommend everyone ...
1. Build A Kit
2. Make a Plan
3. Get Trained
4. Volunteer ... I suggest the Red Cross.