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Letters to the Editor

An open letter to Arroyo Grande Mayor Jim Hill concerning recycling

More than 450 California recycling centers have closed in the last year, stripping millions of consumers of easy access to recycling services.
More than 450 California recycling centers have closed in the last year, stripping millions of consumers of easy access to recycling services. Associated Press

Dear Mayor Jim Hill,

My family lives in Arroyo Grande in the Old Oak Park neighborhood. My concern is about the lack of recycling centers that are available to city residents to redeem their bottles and cans for the CRV refund from the state of California.

Recently and unexpectedly, four area locations have closed. The only location I am aware of that is still open is behind Vons in Grover Beach. Unless I am mistaken, this leaves no recycling center in Arroyo Grande for residents to obtain their CRV refund from the state.

Additionally, one recycling site cannot be expected to handle the demand for the entire 5 Cities area. Lines are excruciatingly long and oftentimes I have been turned away because the center exceeds their storage capacity or has equipment failure.

The apparent lack of oversight that the city is providing its residents to comply with a state-mandated program appears to me like taxation without representation. We are forced to pay the CRV fee upfront and then have extremely limited resources available to get our refund for complying with the state recycling program.

Matt Tregenza, Arroyo Grande

This story was originally published August 28, 2016 at 2:49 PM with the headline "An open letter to Arroyo Grande Mayor Jim Hill concerning recycling."

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