Dear Editor:
Since I moved to New Westminster in 1989, I have tried to take pride in my neighbourhood.
Over the years, quite often while walking the dog, I would pick up garbage, and as part of this cleanup process I collected five fire extinguishers, just dumped in the bush. I think that these mainly came from kids who were vandalizing the now closed Woodlands.
This week I finally decided to take these items to be recycled, at a business on 12th Street, and I was told that there is a fee of $2.50 per extinguisher, which I feel reluctant to pay.
The city's recycling depot does not accept these items, and when I contacted the city engineering department, I was told that I should have left them there where I had found them and contacted the city, who would have come and collected them from the place where they were discarded.
Two years ago I collected five tires discarded in my neighbourhood. When I explained this to Canadian Tire, there was a far more sympathetic response to the situation, and they accepted them in goodwill. I expected the same response from the city.
I will continue to take pride in my neighbourhood but will be careful about which items I will pick up.
Peter Adamus, New Westminster
