Office of Sustainability - City of New Haven PLUS

There is a lack of signage or visible street numbers around the Recycling Center.

The City website (at http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/PublicWorks/recycling/index.asp) lists the address as 260 Middletown Avenue. If you map this address online or using GPS its way off. In reality the Recycling Center is on Dump Road.

If we want people to recycle we have to make the facilities easy to find.

With all the interest in recycling, and the fact that recycling can often make money, why don't the new haven public schools have a comprehensive recycling program? Surely we can find room in the curriculum to teach our children to take care of their world!

By my recollection, New Haven hasn't held an electronics recycling day for two years (http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/publicworks/recycling/electronics.asp). I've called the Department of Public Works about this and they always say they don't know when it will be held next. To keep consumer electronics (and the lead and other heavy metals they contain) out of landfills, the city should give people a way to properly dispose of electronics.

as an (anonymous) employee of a busy downtown restaurant, i think it is time to call public attention to the lack of recycling our businesses do.
while i am working, i am forced to ignore my urge to separate recyclable materials and throw every single thing into the trash, despite how detrimental to the environment, nor how valuable to the city recyclables are (it COSTS money to get rid of waste; it MAKES money to recycle).
i'd like to open this issue to call attention to the businesses that do not recycle, because if we as individuals go to great lengths to recycle in our own homes, then why should we continue to support businesses that do not regardless of why they should?

also, i believe it is shameful, as well as utterly lazy and shortsighted for the city of new haven to not have a policy in place to reprimand businesses who do not recycle. it is almost 2011 and we can't as a collective of intelligent human beings realize that, for instance, when you recycle aluminum, it does not break down over time and is 100% recyclable? one can equals one can for the rest of eternity?

despite the negative effect on my livelihood, i call for a boycott on businesses in new haven that do not recycle, until they begin. before you dine somewhere, ask if they recycle. if they do not, tell the manager that is why you refuse to spend your money there, but that you will return when they begin a recycling program.

need i remind us all that this is the only earth we have???

Don't get me wrong - I love my neighborhood establishments. That's one of the reasons I moved to this location. But, I hadn't anticipated the noise that would follow - not rowdy patrons, but rather garbage bags full of bottles scraping along the pavement at 10PM, midnight, and 2AM (CM's). Trash and recycling pick-ups often occur before 6AM. This week, in fact, two such pick-ups occurred before 5:30AM. One culprit is Rainbow Recycling. I've seen their colorful truck in the Modern parking lot. It would be deeply appreciated if the restaurants/ vendors could adhere to city noise ordinances and respect residents' right to a good night's sleep.