Letters

I only found out how Southampton Town was considering addressing the rising costs of garbage disposal from the December 10 article in The Southampton Press [“The Rising Costs of Recycling”].

Costs for garbage disposal have gone up over the years for various reasons: cost of transportation, change in the recycling markets, etc. So what is the town’s solution? Have the citizenry pay, the citizenry who dispose of their own garbage, generally known as “self-haulers.”

Perhaps the town does not know that these citizens are already paying. They pay for each green bag they put their household garbage in; they pay extra for the disposal of such things as brush, tires and construction debris. And why do many of them haul their garbage to the town transfer stations themselves? Because they cannot afford private pick-up.

Apparently, the Town Board is not only considering an increase on the price of the green bags but also charging an annual fee for a permit. I agree with Cyndi McNamara, chairwoman of the East Quogue Citizens Advisory Committee, as quoted in The Press, that not only did no one know about this (at least in our part of town), but those affected by such an increase are the ones who can least afford it.

I also agree with Ms. McNamara that illegal dumping could be an unwelcome outcome of such a move. Everyone benefits from a clean town.

The town needs to continue to assume responsibility and make it affordable for all citizens to do their part. If the town does, everyone benefits.

Al Algieri

President

East Quogue Civic Association