Recycling Frustration

The city gives us a container for recyclables. It's about the size of a clothes basket. Since I recycle, it is well-used and always has something in it.

That is, unless something has been dragging things out. Tuna/salmon, corn cans are prime targets. I put the plastic cups I use into a plastic bag and tie the bag. Usually, there is a food can in with the cups. Sometimes, the food can is in the recycle bin, loose, without a bag. The whole bag gets dragged out and strewn all over the yard!

When I found the dead possum, there was a plastic bag with plastic cups inside and food cans. Whatever animal is was had dragged the bag all the way around the house to the opposite side. The bag had been ripped open and cups shredded. There is milk residue in most of the cups and sometimes orange juice. I don't want to go near the smelly place, but I will because I have to.

There are animals all over the neighborhood--at least one possum, raccoons, dogs, and cats and coyotes if I am to believe neighbors. I have to go all over the yard and collect debris that animals have strewn.

The neighbors behind me put out bags of trash that are not in a can. I have never seen the bags torn. I feel like I am a target yard over here. Neighbors that put out recycling swear nothing ever happens to their recycling even when it has attractive contents.

We have leash laws that no one bothers to follow. We cannot shot raccoons because it is illegal to shoot a gun in the city limits. Poison would kill dogs and cats. Live traps could not trap dogs or neighbor cats, all of which would have to be released.

I even found a can under the house, visible from the outside since I did not go under there. No, I left the can under there. This opening under the house had a window with a screen until a cat burst right through it trying to escape another cat. I replaced it once and it happened again. No, these are not my cats.

I cannot confront anyone if I have not seen their cat or dog. So, there is no use even thinking of that. Wild animals would not listen, understand, or care.

As of this afternoon, there are five bags of things or individual cans I must pick up with my back that does not like bending over.

Other than stop recycling, there are no choices. What would you do? And, I am not washing disposable cups that I use because of the problem with washing dishes! Do you have this problem in your neighborhood?