Fence it

The facility in Bingen is operated by the Klickitat County Solid Waste Department, and it offers a handy place for local residents to recycle paper, cardboard, glass, cans, and plastics. It's open anytime, which makes it very convenient for everyone, and local residents are taking advantage of it because the site gets used a lot.

There is just one problem, however: The recycling site is not fenced. The Columbia River Gorge is famous for its winds, and because people are recycling a lot of paper, that means it's not uncommon for the wind to pick up paper and even sheets of cardboard and send them flying out of the containers they are in. When the bins are full, the problem gets a lot worse, because the wind just blows the paper sideways and away from the recycling site.

One day recently, for example, the field around Bingen Lake was covered with paper, cardboard, and other trash, and more was blowing out of the bins and across the road, desecrating the scenic surroundings.

We love the fact the county has made the recycling area available and readily accessible, so no one should take this as a criticism -- it is simply a problem that needs to be fixed.

What can be done? There are several approaches we recommend: First, perhaps plastic covers could be used over the containers instead of the heavy metal lids that currently are left propped open. A light plastic lid that people could easily lift and then close when done dropping off their recycling would keep the paper from blowing about.

Another possibility: The county could consider dumping the containers more frequently. Often, the bins get filled to the brim or even start overflowing before they are emptied. That makes it a lot easier for the wind to carry materials everywhere. If the county were to either accelerate its schedule for emptying the paper bins or monitor them more closely to ensure they get replaced as they become full, that would help.

Perhaps the best solution would be to surround the recycling site with a fence. This would contain the litter to the immediate area, making it much easier to be picked up. Sure, a fence would cost some money, but litter has its costs too. A fence would be a relatively small investment in protecting our scenic values and quality of life. No one wants to look at litter.

One way or another, a solution to this ongoing concern needs to be found.

JB