Recycling bin thefts are becoming more common in Clark County, and opinions are divided on how to address this issue. We want to hear from you! Should there be stricter enforcement and penalties for those who steal from recycling bins? Would increased public awareness and education help curb the problem? Maybe providing alternative ways for people to recycle legally is the solution? Or do you think it’s not a big deal and should be left as is? Cast your vote in our poll below and let your voice be heard!
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Opinion: It is a crime to rummage through recycling bins but best leave it to law enforcement
Paul Valencia discusses the rise in recycling bin theft in Clark County and its impact on local communities.
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Policing recycling bins is at the bottom of priorities for law enforcement. Who is the victim? The scroungers are taking the containers with refund value and redeeming in Oregon for cash. If they are not making a mess why bother the police when their time could be used to cite all of the vehicles running on expired plates? I must be the sucker to keep my license and insurance current when I see plates with 23 tabs on much newer vehicles than mine. Does expired plates mean no insurance?
The reason individuals sift through our recycling carts is to collect items they can sell. The problem we’ve had is the individuals often aren’t just looking for cans but additional items in your yard, on your deck or patio. They get brave and begin looking in your car windows, home windows, garage windows, basically casing your place. When I resided in an Uptown Village neighborhood, it was unreal how bad the theft was, especially on our assigned trash pick-up day. After moving to another area, my current neighborhood pays attention to individuals approaching recycling carts with their giant trash bag in tow. After being met with a strong NO and staring glance, they move on. In my opinion, neighbors need to be reasonably watchful and direct these individuals away from homes, down the street and out of the neighborhood.
It seems to me that people are rummaging recycle bins more out of desperation that anything else. Stricter reinforcing will not accomplish much, because the police have too many competing priorities. If there were a better way to sort and categorize waste and recycling costs could be dropped in favor of increasing costs on non recyclable waste, that might push the pendulum in a better direction.
The recycling bins in my neighborhood don’t seem to get many scroungers, but this is “good luck” rather than “good management.” I have heard complaints from friends who do get regular recycle visitors and the typical complaint is that recycling materials get scattered in the street and are left for residents to clean up. The overlooked fact (aside from Oregon paying recycle refunds against bottles and cans that did not pay the tax) is that revenue from recycled materials offset the costs of providing the recyclables pickup service. So those who rummage through the bins end up costing all of us money as that is revenue that will not be earned by the service provider. Admittedly, the police likely have far more serious issues to look after, but roving suppression of this activity might be appropriate in the more hard-hit neighborhoods. From what I hear, this might also lower the rate of petty thefts from autos and porches that some scroungers also hit.