CAMANO ISLAND – Teri and John McLachlan loaded their Chilean bearded collie and bins of plastic, cans and newspapers into their sport utility vehicle.
She added three wine bottles. He closed the hatch.
They were off.
Within 10 minutes, they had arrived at Camano Island’s sole recycling center and dumped their recyclables into huge recycling crates.
They know the routine.
Since curbside recycling isn’t available on Camano Island, the McLachlan’s make the trip every few weeks.
And they don’t mind.
They live just 31/2 miles from the drop-off center and are strong enough to lug around their bins.
Not everyone is as lucky. Located on the eastern side of the island, the center is easily a 20-minute trek each way for some islanders.
Many newcomers miss the convenience of curbside pickup and want Island County to implement the service.
“It’s a terrible waste to put all that stuff in the dumpster every day,” said Jerry Soltis, who moved to Camano Island a year ago. “When we recycled in Seattle, we saved a whole bunch of money by recycling.”
But curbside recycling costs – especially in rural areas. And Camano Island residents have twice indicated they’re not willing to pay. In 2000, 63 percent of the island’s curbside trash customers said they would not pay an extra $5 to $7 a month for curbside recycling, said Dave Bonvouloir, Island County’s solid waste manager.
In a 2004 survey, more than 75 percent of respondents were unwilling to pay anything but a minimum fee for curbside pickup.
“You do have to pay the piper,” he said. “None of this stuff is free. It’s all a matter of economics and how much they are willing to pay. It’s a great misconception that recycling is free. It is not. It costs only slightly less than solid waste disposal.”
Curbside recycling generally costs less for city dwellers than country folk. In rural areas, recycling providers often must drive long distances for a relatively small amount of recyclables, increasing their costs.
It’s unclear how much curbside recycling would cost on Camano Island. At the request of Island County, Waste Management is looking into it, said marketing manager Jamey DeSoer from his Kirkland office. The company currently provides voluntary trash pick-up on the island for $13.20 per week for a 30-gallon garbage can at the curb.
“We’re going to approach it and see if we can economically do it,” he said. “But are the citizens willing to help pay for the program?”
On Whidbey Island, residents pay $14.31 each week for Waste Connections to dispose of one can of garbage. The Folsom, Calif.-based company currently sorts through the trash and plucks out recyclables. However, it too is considering switching to a curbside set up, said Regional Vice President Eric Merrill.
Though the current arrangement is profitable, more recyclables would be salvaged in a curbside program, Merrill said.
The city of Oak Harbor already provides curbside pickup for its residents. And for those who’d rather cart their recyclables to a drop-off center, there are four on Whidbey Island.
“There’s some very dedicated people on this island that recycle,” said Janet Hall, Island County’s Waste Wise volunteer coordinator. “They love the island, and they want to take care of it. It’s not as convenient as if you live in a big city, but they don’t want to live in a big city; so they take the extra time.”
Island County is in the process of making Camano Island’s recycling center more user-friendly. Currently, recyclers must hike up a flight of steps, then dump their recyclables over the edge of a massive crate.
This process is difficult, if not impossible, for some of the island’s elderly residents. For others, it’s just inconvenient.
Teri McLachlan said she understands that under the current set-up, recycling can be difficult for some. However, once the stairs are eliminated, everyone who wants to recycle should be able to, she said. For her, it’s a matter of personal responsibility.
A Waste Wise volunteer, McLachlan keeps a wooden bin full of worms and leftover food in her garage. The worms eat the scraps, and she gets fertilizer for her garden. She also scours thrift stores for knickknacks for her hilltop, water-view home. She even found her recycling bins at a thrift store.
Camano Island’s recycling system isn’t perfect, she said, but, for now, it works.
Reporter Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292 or kmanry@heraldnet.com.
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