The LuLac Edition #4142, October 2nd, 2019

WRITE ON WEDNESDAY

Our “Write On Wednesday” logo

This week we feature a letter to the Editor from local activist Mario Fiorucci. Mr. Fiorucci has been a long time advocate for sensible government policies even though he has at times been blocked by the establishment. But that does not deter him from speaking out. Here are his thoughts:

A SIMPLE SOLUTION TO COMBAT ILLEGAL DUMPING

Dumping is driven by the lack of disposal options and “bagging” of all household waste.
The opinion piece and recent article on dumping that was published in your paper hit on possible solutions to curb illegal dumping.
I proposed a full-county sponsored recycling center back in 2004, but only got the county commissioners to agree to a once-a-year tire recycling and electronics pick-up. Since then, dumping has declined significantly.
But, when municipalities require all household waste to be put in paid for bags, people cannot get rid of junk for free. There are some places that recycle electronics year round for a fee, but that fee is expensive to some, and the county electronics program has been transformed into a partnership with municipalities, which only a few have participated in to date.
So, if a paid for by ticket spring cleaning for junk or full ‘junk’ pick up was available to the public, less furniture, discarded building materials, tires and TVs would end up in our woods or dumped on the side of the road.
Mario Fiorucci
Sugar Notch

Additionally, when the county council announced their 'partnership' program with our municipalities, I asked why won't the county pay for it anymore. They said, because they recycling companies won't do it for 'free' anymore. Well, that was when they could make money off recycling, like during the second gulf war years, when prices where high. But both programs were originally funded when Phil Latinski was in charge of the L.C. Solid waste department and they started getting paid $1 a ton for garbage dumped in landfills. They used that money, to start the programs. Now all the dumping fees, $2 a ton now, or more.. go toward paying the overhead for the L.C. solid waste dept. When I brought up this fact, with proof in writing at a county council meeting held at the Pittston LIbrary a few years ago, member Steve Urban, threw the paper I had it typed-up on, it the air! And nothing has changed since and I don't know how many municipalities ever partnered with the county, but it hasn't been many. 
Mario.