Sunset Scavenger's latest newsletter describes the growing nuisance of recycling thieves:
Thousands of city residents have filed complaints about groups of poachers stealing bottles and cans from blue recycling carts and dumping recyclables into beat-up trucks crudely fashioned to carry big payloads.This isn't news, but for the first time they've put a price tag on it: $469,000 in taxpayer money.
Residents report that recycling thieves wake families in the middle of the night, throw newspaper and other materials on the ground (leaving homeowners to deal with the mess) and trespass onto private property. One San Francisco resident said she was assaulted by a recycling thief after asking the poacher not to take her recyclables.
So how do you feel about it? Benign? Annoying? A menace? Do you think it's actually hurting anyone, or is Sunset Scavenger whining about lost revenue? And if "thousands" have complained, why isn't anything being done to stop it locally (as opposed to AB 1778)?
If you'd like to express yourself, here's some contact information:
- Sunset Scavenger: Recycle Theft Form (they'll compile info and send to the City)
- SFPD non-emergency line: (415) 553-0123 (to report theft in-progress)
- Bevan Dufty
- Mayor Newsom's Noe Valley Liaison: Alex Randolph - email, (415) 554-6267
This is a big problem for all of us. Not only is it a nuisance for those of us trying to do the right thing for the environment, it is costly to the program that we all pay for. Please use the Recycle Theft Form at SFrecycing.com to report recycle theft. It is the best way to compile the data and to channel our law enforcement efforts.
ReplyDeleteBob Besso
Recycling Manager
Sunset Scavenger. Co
I just made a report on your website for a repeat offender who has been stealing recyclables from my street for over 2 years. They come by with the old beat-up trucks next and pick up bags and bags of recyclables from our street - every week !
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