Do you think that all the trash that ends up on our roadways and in waterways is deliberately put there? I get a chance to ponder that every time there is a windy trash day. My house faces northwest at the far end of a cul-de-sac. Very often, a lot of my neighbors’ trash and recycling ends up in my yard.

Part of the problem is that Washington Township issues a single-stream recycling container that does not have a lid. When filled with lightweight empty containers, it is quite easy for the bin to blow over in the wind. If I did not have landscaping and a fence, the trash would keep blowing to the main street behind my house, to a nearby creek and into the ocean. Empty plastic bags (although barred from curbside recycling) also end up in my landscaping.

I have found a simple solution to keep my recycling from blowing around. I keep a container, such as a litter box, in which I put paper recycling, magazines, newspapers, junk mail, and empty cereal and cracker boxes, which I take the time to flatten. The night before trash day, I bundle all that paper together with twine or masking tape. The bundle goes on top of the loose containers in the recycling bin, and provides enough weight so that the bin does not fall over.

Another other thing I do with larger cardboard boxes is flatten them, and put smaller ones inside of larger ones. This also concentrates the weight.

Sure, this takes a little bit more time and effort, but I think it is worth it. Consider this if you put your Amazon delivery boxes at the curb without flattening them: Your neighbor will know where they came from.

Without offering solutions, Dems risk it all

President Joe Biden has had some accomplishments. Between the infrastructure bill, the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and the expansion of health coverage, he has been able to improve certain things.

However, there are many voters who are not satisfied in the direction our country is headed and, in some ways, I’m one of them.

Up and coming Republicans like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are focused on legislation that would outlaw taking children to drag shows, and allowing a state board to ban 40% of math textbooks for “indoctrination” content, etc.

Most voters I speak with are concerned about inflation, crime, gasoline prices and the general economy.

While Democrats could be addressing these valid concerns that the Republicans are ignoring, they are minimizing and rationalizing these serious problems by insisting there’s little or nothing Biden and the Democrat-majority Congress can do about them.

This defeatist strategy won’t work. If the American electorate is told there’s almost nothing the current leadership in Washington can help them with, what makes anyone think voters will come out and reelect the same people who’ve just admitted they can’t do squat?

I’m scared of Republicans regaining control of the House. This can be avoided, but it starts by choosing as candidates Democrats who will do what’s right, even if it means bucking the party line when necessary.

County’s outreach program is tops

I’d like to highlight the outstanding work being done by Gloucester County’s Community Outreach Team, which was recently established by Commission Director Frank DiMarco and the rest of the board of commissioners.

This team (funded with a $738,000 grant-paid contract with a private vendor) is sending outreach workers into communities across the county to talk with residents directly, often door to door, about resources and services that are available to them. Seniors receive information about the county’s senior services and programs. Veterans are connected to the veteran’s affairs department. People seeking work are provided information about job opportunities. People who are struggling financially learn about mortgage, rent and utilities assistance programs, and so much more.

People have so much going on in their lives, especially these days. It can be difficult to know about every potential resource available to you. The county’s effort to go into the community and connect with people where they are is a reflection of government at its very best.

I am personally grateful for the county’s senior and veterans’ assistance services when my father needed care in his final days. I could not have maneuvered through the process without the caring people in these Gloucester County offices.

Additionally, the new outreach team consists of good people focused on getting help to those who need it most, and that is a wonderful thing to see from our county officials.

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