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Letters: However you spin it, moving New West's recycling depot is a bad idea

Editor: I feel I have to weigh in on the topic of moving our recycling depot to the United Boulevard location in Coquitlam. I am certainly not in favour of this move despite the spin the city council is taking on the move.
recycling depot, New Westminster
The city's current recycling depot makes sense for residents. Moving it doesn't, says this letter writer.

Editor:

I feel I have to weigh in on the topic of moving our recycling depot to the United Boulevard location in Coquitlam. I am certainly not in favour of this move despite the spin the city council is taking on the move. Yes, it might save the city money, but the inconvenience of lugging all the various recycling items not picked up by the city curbside program to the far reaches of the United Boulevard location doesn’t make it worth it for many of the users of the recycling program. Firstly one has to have a car, many New West residents do not. The added distance in travelling time will likely dissuade some citizens from making the effort. The success of any recycling program hinges on the convenience of using it. I suspect people living in Queensborough will especially be unhappy to make the journey.

I did attend the public consultation meetings about the replacing of the Canada Games Pool and the community centre, but little or no mention was made of getting rid of the existing recycling depot and certainly not the relocation to Coquitlam. The council needs to revisit this whole issue. It needs to listen to the feedback of the citizens of New Westminster. We deserve our own recycling depot, conveniently located for the maximum use by everyone.

Abandoning our own recycling depot and forcing people to drive to a neighbouring community to participate in the program will certainly lead to many recyclable items ending up in a garbage can.

The city council needs to do the right thing and consult through public meetings as to what the citizens want and not just force this change on us.

Julia Goulden, New Westminster