DIVERS: Dumping common sense

Dumpster diving has been a problem for a long time. In fact, it is so bad we ought to station a sheriff’s deputy at each dumping site. Then we could catch these hard core criminals and throw them in the slammer where they really belong. After all, this is a very serious crime.

Really! We read a lot in the paper and elsewhere about the great need to recycle, and the best way to recycle is to use what other people throw away. Over the years, I have found valuable things left near a dumpster that were nearly new; something that someone really did not want any longer, but thought someone else might use.

The present dumpsters are taller than the ones before. With such dumpsters it might be possible to get in and not get out again.

So, what is the problem? Other nations do not have this problem. In some of them there is a whole culture built up around dumps, with people making a living gathering things that others have thrown away.

I think the law needs to be changed to make it easier to salvage. Our kids in Alaska were able to get a working refrigerator, bathtub and other usable objects from the city dump. I think the law needs to be changed to allow people to collect what others may throw away. It is terrible to arrive at the recycle station and see something that has been thrown away that could be used but not be able to claim it. Even firewood. The more we use firewood, the less electricity or gas is needed.

It is stupid to expend resources (sheriff) to catch people at a crime that is really not a crime. To build confidence in our government we just need to change a few stupid laws that help no one and make life more difficult. A good place to start would be dumpster diving.

JIM HOLLINGSWORTH

Coeur d’Alene