And Fragrant Zone...

Woodsy Owl the USDA Forest Service mascot used to say "Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute!" He's now got a new message "Lend a Hand - Care for the Land!"

Apparently that's falling on deaf ears here in Newburgh.

We do have regulations on garbage and we do have enforcement officers. The problem is that we have too much garbage.



Newburgh seems to have a disproportionate amount of ambient trash. It blows on the roadways and into yards, it gets tangled in fencing and stuck on the curbs.

But there are also the televisions, sofas, tables, mattresses, tires and chairs that the city charges to remove and no one wants to pay for.

Obviously a clean environment is healthier and more pleasant to live in.

There are rules for construction debris. It must be put in a dumpster and it will not be picked up by the city. Perhaps the city should ensure that the fines for construction debris are daily at least twice the cost of a dumpster rental.

Garbage must be placed in clear trash bags in the City of Newburgh. Paper, plastic, glass and cans must set apart for recycling.

Yesterday I needed to buy trash bags for home. My corner store offered to sell me a single clear bag for 50 cents or three for one dollar. They do have black bags on the shelf ten for one dollar. I went to Kmart, which does not sell clear bags. I went to Eckard pharmacy, I went to Rite Aid. I went to Target. None of these stores stock clear trash bags. I finally did find clear bags at Associated Supermarket.