From David Buttery, Woodland Park City Manager …

“Sadly Wal-mart and Waste Management are suspending the recycling drop-off station at the Woodland Park Wal-mart on Friday, June 8 due to abuse of this free-of-charge service. Disrespectful patrons have been dropping off household garbage, waste oil, and numerous other things that can’t be recycled and ruin those items that can be recycled. Employees of both companies have to clean up after these messy people. This valuable service will be missed and we hope that a plan can be created that will bring it back soon.”

How sad that such a small percentage of our population had such a destructive impact on our recycling efforts.  As a result, all of us lost access to our free community recycling center.   We thank both Walmart and Waste Management for their patience and effort … they tried and tried and tried again, as did Teller County Waste before them.  Unfortunately far too many treated the recycling center as their personal dumping ground.

For those committed to recycling, take note that Waste Management’s transfer station in downtown Divide is accepting recyclables, and as of this writing. dropping off recyclables is free.   In addition, both Waste Management & Teller County Waste offer curbside recycling for a fee.

Walmart & Waste Management have been gracious enough to provide Woodland Park and Teller County residents with a free-to-use recycling facility in the Walmart parking lot.  But unfortunately it continues to be misused.  And I’m afraid if that misuse continues, we’ll no longer have the facility.

PLEASE make sure all your recyclables get in the bins.  If you drop something, pick it up.  This will help us reduce litter.  And it’s especially important if what you drop is glass .. that’s a safety issue.  Times are tight for everybody.  None of us want to have to replace a tire because of carelessness.

Also please note that Waste Management does not want plastic grocery sacks in the comingled recycling bin … they clog the sorting machines.  If your comingled recyclables (plastic, glass and metal) are in plastic bags, please tear the bags open and dump their contents in the bins.  Then place your empty plastic bags in the green totes for separate recycling.