Not only did we get our second violation, the City of Scottsdale recycling cop came in person and knocked on our door to talk to us.
I wrote about our first offense and our bad, bad neighborhood along with coyotes HERE.
This time we were told we have one more chance at recycling. If we have three strikes we are OUT! The recycling police will take our bin away and we will put everything in the regular trash bin. This time it was plastic bags from the grocery store. I always thought they were supposed to be recycled, so I learned something new. I’m super careful about what gets recycled and break down all the boxes from Amazon that seem to be flowing freely to our house daily. It was a shock to get an in person visit.
On my small walk yesterday, I saw a neighbor had a pink slip on their recycling bin. I wanted to take a peek at what offense they had committed. I walked over to the bin to see what their pink slip said but my husband thought I was being nosy and objected.
On a brighter note, look at how the Christmas Cactus bloom I posted Wednesday looks today!
Here are a couple nature shots I took this week:
Mourning Doves at the bird bath.
The squirrels eat the blossoms on the barrel cactus.
Here’s looking at you, Red!
Have a great weekend! What are your plans for this second weekend of February?
Yes, those bags can be recycled but they have to go back to the store, who does whatever they do with them— that is one reason I got reusable canvas bags for groceries and such. It was sort of a pain to have to remember to take plastic bags back. Most big chain grocers have gone back to paper bags so if you don’t bring your own you can at least put those bags in the bins, even though you pay for them.
I had friends that worked at groceries stores… at the 3 major chain in Phoenix, the “recycled” plastic bags go into the regular trash dumpster at the end of the week. 😩
I don’t doubt that! My husband had a client who worked for Waste Management and he said the recycling went to the dump with everything else.
I was pretty sure that is the case Erin, but just hoped differently. 🙁
I have my learned my lesson about the plastic bags. I have a friend who sews for a living — sail covers, duvets, curtains etc. She made me a set of grocery bags out of a vegetable print fabric 30 years ago! I think we were the first to have cloth bags. Then COVID came and we were not allowed to bring in cloth bags and I got out of the habit.
It is a habit. I keep multiple types in my car and even a few inside. They help me remember. Plus if I do get paper for some reason I know I can recycle those with our general bin pick up or we can include those with our compost.
Good idea. I got out of the habit through COVID. In CA we weren’t allowed to bring in our own bags.
Wow.
You “contaminated” the recycling. 🤣
I’m sorry, I don’t want you to lose your recycling bin…. but the idea that they police it so strongly is comically bizarre.
My husband is forever tossing non approved items in ours and they just toss it when they separate. No pink slips, no threats.
Love your little blossom thief!
For some reason our neighborhood has been named a problem and we are looked at extra closely!
I’m glad you enjoyed my squirrel!
The whole recycling push leaves me confused and irritated. For instance, we’re not supposed to put our food scraps and yardwork scraps in the regular trash. Rather, it must be in the container that goes toward mulching. Carboard and plastic has to go into its own special container. Unless it’s the kind that is not supposed to go in there, whatever that is. I’d just like to go back to the good ol’ days when trash was trash, and it all went into one container. To me it’s laughable when they complain that we have “contaminated” the trash.
It is a little much that I “contaminated” the trash! My kids have all those separate bins and they have a nasty container in their kitchen for the food scraps. I was so confused when I was in the Bay Area to take care of them. My daughter-in-law had to go to the trash bins with me and show me what was what.
Wow, on not being able to put your food or yard scraps into the trash! Crazy! All we separate here is the plastic and cardboard.
That’s how it was up until a few years ago. Now we are required, upon threat of being hanged by our thumbs in a dungeon, to separate everything out. But I say, screw them. I still cheat a lot and put food and yard scraps in the regular trash. Haven’t been caught yet.
You rebel, you! But please keep those laws out there! We don’t need them here, or I will be a rebel too!
As they say, what happens in California eventually spreads to the rest of the country. Sort of like cancer.
Perhaps this will be an exception!
If it happens in Pennsylvania, I’ll send you tips on how to get away with throwing your trash out.
LOL! Okay, thanks.
100% True.
That’s why we left California. That and the homeless guy who moved into our backyard and the $1000 a month summer AC bill.
We’ve contemplated fleeing California, but the U-Hauls are getting too expensive, what with the law of supply and demand.
A homeless guy in your backyard? Yikes! I’d be loading my gun.
And yes, I’ve heard of those $1,000 a month AC bills. I used to drink a gallon of water a day, delivering mail in Palm Springs. It gets just about as hot as temperatures can get, down there.
We hired movers from Arizona to come and get us. Their truck wasn’t big enough so they had to rent a U-Haul too. The nearest one was in San Diego! We would call the police about the homeless guy. They’d arrest him and he’d be back the next day.
Our AC bill was so high because our house was built in the 1930s with single-paned windows and no insulation in the roof. It was a beautiful home, but not practical.
My great-grandfather was a carpenter, who helped build some of those homes in Palm Springs back in the 1930s. According to my great-grandmother, they kept cool by hanging wet burlap bags in the windows, for a swamp cooler effect. Not as expensive as AC, but not nearly as effective, either.
Wow. That is an amazing story. No, I don’t think the burlap bags would be enough.
Oh you rule breaker Elizabeth!!! Tsk, tsk, how dare you! Gotta get with the program. Ha ha, oh I kid. After reading your post, all these rebel fight songs like The Clash’s “I fought the law and the law won” or Twisted Sister’s “We’re not gonna take it!” are running through my head now. Ha, ha, hang in there. It sounds a touch overkill to me. I feel like kindly pointing out the issue without all the threats would go farther but I’m sure there are lots of big abusers out there. Anyway, thanks for trying. Mother Earth thanks you.
Those songs are so appropriate. Thanks for sharing them. I’ll have to put them on blast and I’ll feel better. You made me laugh about the situation.
Oh that’s great. Ya gotta laugh. I know I would crazy otherwise. Ha, ha.
The critter photos are very beautiful, Elizabeth! How can the Ground Squirrel navigate that barrel cacti? Ouch! I live in an HOA.
I usually break down the cardboard boxes and don’t recycle the plastic bags, they do not want them.
I have never seen a cop come to my door about this, that’s ridiculous. I would start putting everything in the rubbish can…
I’m happy you enjoyed my critter photos! I learned my lesson about those plastic bags! The knock on the door and lecture seemed a bit much. It also happened to a friend in our neighborhood. She told me about after I shared our first infraction. She also had someone come to her door. She stopped recycling and puts it all in the rubbish bin.
Recycling police ….😆 As to the weekend …having massage today, seeing wuthering heights tomorrow. The Met to see Revolution exhibit.
I would love a massage. What a great idea! Let us know what you think of the movie and the exhibit.
Will do!
How do the squirrels get those blooms without spearing themselves with the cacti pokies?
Well, if you stop blogging all of a sudden, we will know there was another infraction and you’re officially in Recycling Jail! HA. I’m laughing at your wanting to compare your pink slip with your neighbors’. I would do the same thing. Every town has different recycling policies, but we also can not put plastic bags (of any type) in our bins, BUT, my grocery store (Publix) has bins outside that do accept grocery plastic bags. I don’t know what they do with them, but the rare occurrence when I get a grocery plastic bag, I take them back there.
I wonder about the squirrels too? Especially on their undersides. I used to find uses with the plastic bags with a dog and a cat. But now I have none. I need to take in my cloth bags shopping!
I’m dumbfounded that the recycling police sift through your trash looking for violations. Insane! I was going to suggest the public recycling drop-off bins, but it looks like they’re permanently removed due to contamination… plastic grocery bags, indubitably. Oops!
https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/solid-waste/trash-recycling/recycling-guidelines#public-drop-off-locations-closed
It’s so fascinating that the squirrels can navigate up the cactus without getting hurt.
I know. Isn’t that wild they go through our bins? My daughter said I should stop recycling altogether because they send stuff over to China to burn and it hurts the environment. We don’t have the processing plants in the US to recycle. I didn’t know that. When I visit my kids they have five separate bins! The squirrels must not feel pain, or they are very crafty.
Oof, I didn’t know that was the case with recycling. I wonder why they even bother giving the illusion of a recycling program if it’s all just being burned. How sad…
I’m not sure if that is the case with all recycling, but it possible! My daughter said most cities are not equipped to process our recycling.
Oops, I’m sorry. Love your photos dear friend
Thank you! 💕
You’re most welcome
💕
Sounds like an interesting job he has if you can get it. Lots of exercise, perhaps, and you get to know everyone’s business. Happy Valentine’s Day, tomorrow. Mike bought me a yellow rose bouquet. The real gift was that he was feeling better and able to get out and get it and then go shopping for some things he wanted.
That’s looking on the bright side of the recycling inspector. I’m glad your husband is feeling better!
Oh, I try. In Tampa, they are not so particular but on the golf course side Temple Terrace, I have heard they can be quite proficient in the same language as your guy.
I have a bag of plastic bags. When it gets full, I take it to the store with me for them to recycle. I can’t believe they are going through your recycling. That’s just insane!
It is hard to believe that they poke through everyone’s recycling bins. We’ll go for a walk on recycling day and see five or six pink slips! Good idea on the plastic bags.
Recycling is so confusing. Enjoyed the photos. Those squirrels on the spikes – ouch!
Those blossoms the squirrels eat on the cactus must be really good! Or why would they climb on the spikes? I’m glad you enjoyed my photos.
Recycle police???? We just get a tag explaining why the bin wasn’t emptied, in very general terms. You must try harder 😉 🤣👍
Ha! Your recycling police are much kinder than ours! I’m such a rule follower, but I’m wondering what is the next rule I’ll break and get my bin taken away!
Yeah, we save all the stretchy plastic bags and packaging to go to a special bin at the grocery store.
Can you imagine being that tiny squirrel and climbing around on such a spiny cactus? Ouch!
The cactus must be so hard on the squirrel’s underside. That fluffy white debris of a flower must have a tasty seed inside. Otherwise it wouldn’t be worth it!
When we do our daily walks on trash day, I am amazed (but not really surprised) at what some people put in their recycle containers (tell your husband that I don’t actually look inside, you can see things sticking out from the top of the bin). I agree that it can get really confusing.
Last time we got written up for not having the bin lid closed all the way! It was up a quarter or half an inch. So it sounds neighbors needed pink slips, too!
well, I am glad to see I am not alone. We also received a visit from the recycling ‘cop’. He spoke with my husband, but to be honest it was quite unnerving. we have lived here 5 years and now all the sudden we are ‘bad’ recyclers? we were told that we could NOT have our recycling in a ‘recyclable’ trash bag? UHM.. okay? I hate to stop recycling but at the same time worry about every single thing I throw in there.. so it has now been limited!! (I believe I live close to you so I am wondering if it is the same enforcement crew) 😉
We’ve lived here for five years, too. I wonder if you’re in our neighborhood? We’re off of Pima and Stagecoach. We could have an extra zealous recycling cop. Or someone who takes their job seriously.
Can’t believe you got another pink slip, “contaminating..” Oh gosh! 🤦♀️🤦♀️
Love your mourning doves and seeing Mr Red again. 🙂
I can’t believe we got another pink slip either — or a visit from the recycling police.
It’s heart warming for me to have Red and Mrs. in the yard every day!
Mr and Mrs Red are always welcome to visit, unlike the recycling police, right!
Absolutely! I’m looking for Red and Mrs now, but haven’t seen them today.
They just showed up and I got some photos! 😀
Wonderful! 💕
Plastic bags — those are a tough one. I store mine up because I’m never sure so I have bags of plastic bags. 🙂 But the 3 strikes rule is a tough one!
Love your nature shots – those squirrels are adorable!
It seemed over the top to have an recycling employee knock on our door to have a word with us! But I did learn that those grocery bags don’t go in the recycling. I’ve always recycled them!
I’m glad you liked my nature shots!
I’m sorry you got called out for the recycling offense. 🤭 Are they as diligent about other offenses people might commit in your neighborhood? 🤔
I winced at the squirrel on the cactus. I’m curious to know if their little feet get hurt on it? I’m guessing not if they are standing on it.
Always love your beautiful pictures. 🥰
I’m glad you enjoy my photos! That makes me smile. As for other offenses, we have a pretty strict HOA. I got written up for having my trash bin out too early one day. We were leaving on vacation, so I put it on the curb when we left to save my neighbor the chore.
Well…I guess that’s good if they’re staying on top of things. 😊
Recycling rules are strict around here, too. I printed out a flyer they provided to make sure I’m putting the right items in the bin. I take my plastic bags to Walmart, they have a box for collecting them at the entrance. Our recycling center doesn’t accept shredded paper anymore, so I’m throwing it in my compost bin with everything else. It breaks down relatively quickly in the compost.
We don’t have compost bins or the number of bins our kids have in the Bay Area. But they are sure strict with the one we have for recycling. I remember my parents had a big compost pile in our backyard. I think all the grass clippings and food scraps went there. We also had a burn barrel which seems contradictory.
Yes, I keep two small bins (plastic trash cans) in the garage for my compost. I add paper, grass clippings, leaves, and food scraps. When it’s ready, I just spread it around the plants and other areas of the yard.
My mom and dad used our compost for our garden. We had an amazing garden and had fresh vegetables for about half the year. Thanks for the idea. Although I don’t have a garden, our plants would benefit from compost.
You’re very welcome. I struggled with stirring it at the beginning until I purchased a compost stirrer online. I bought a WLSANX Compost Stirring Tool, Compost Turning Bar (33.4 inches), and it solved all my problems.
Thanks for sharing. I had no idea a compost stirrer existed.
You’re so welcome.
👍🏼