This is part of an ongoing series titled Mailbag, items readers submit via email or our feedback form(not social media, everybody already sees that). We get a ton of feedback, this is not close to everything (it’s about 4%), but it’s a good sample.
General
“CA is awesome. I read the newsletter every morning and usually several articles from it. I follow the writers on social networks. Please please please use the correct neighborhoods. I know NoDa is awesome. I know PM is awesome. I go there too. But each store/restaurant/bar/brewery is not in these neighborhoods, even if they wish they were. One article from you guys can make such a difference. Look out for the small neighborhoods – we need you.” – A
In response to: A skimmable guide to who you will be voting for on March 15
“THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for the skimmable guide to the election. I moved from California where our mailbox would be filled with campaign post cards, etc. While I appreciate not having to waste all the paper, I had such a hard time with the last election here in NC. I had no idea what I was voting for. Also I appreciate that the coverage was non partisan. Lastly I love the comment about Cherie Berry. I knew exactly what you meant!” – S
In response to: Moses’s story
“I read the story about Moses. Moses is my older brother by two years. Grew up and moved from Baltimore together. I wish the story would have talked about how incredibly talented he was. I mean he way gifted rap, brake dancing, drawing. He had swag out the a**. Was on channel nine news for his dance crew. I also wish the alcohol and mental health issues he has would have made it in. I wish us growing up in a religious cult was spoken on.” – L
In response to: SkillPop is the best early stage startup in Charlotte and angel investors should be drooling over it
THANK YOU for highlighting my sweet friend Haley! Just a year ago, sitting outside at VBGB on a perfect Charlotte spring afternoon, she was referring to SkillPop as her “Passion Project” – and now the whole City has the ability to participate in her dream. Charlotteans are AWESOME, and work hard to help make this City great. Thanks for being part of my morning routine, Axios Charlotte! – E
In response to: 10 eligible bachelors in Charlotte according to your nominations
“Holy cow… Barry Fabyan is a total babe! Thank you so much for featuring a nice looking guy for the ‘over 40’ crowd.” – L
“10 most eligible Charlotte bachelorettes?!? I’M YOUR GIRL!!! (and a redhead! Fellas love a redhead!)” – J
“There’s going to be a “Most Eligible Bachelorette In Charlotte” piece too, right?! Asking for a friend. And if you can provide any tips on how to meet Donnie that’d be fabulous. Thanks.” – A
In response to: Ric Elias just made 280 local teachers’ wishes come true
“Thank you so much for publicizing Donors Choose! Not only did Red Ventures fund two of my projects, but today someone else funded one as a result of your article! I’m a local ESL teacher at a high-poverty school.” – A
“Just wanted to say thanks for including an article on DonorsChoose in the Agenda today. I have had over 100 projects funded and notice that very few of my donors are Charlotte residents. I hope that your article will change that!” – J
In response to Ted’s newsletter intro on March 8
What do millennials want from employers? Isn’t that a loaded question? I’m new to the workforce, a fresh-faced college graduate already bitter to standards I cannot meet, experiences I didn’t have the opportunity for, and the debts I cannot afford that already threaten to drown me. Entry level jobs want three to five years of related experience, at least, an internship under the ‘required’ area, and no, your years of volunteer service to the community don’t count. “We don’t want to teach you,” the rejection emails read, “we want someone who has been there, done that.” We will not invest in your future and you are not worth our time, is what I read between the lines. Internships are scarce when applicants are a dime a dozen, and if you’re reaching blindly into a field without contacts, you might as well start building a ladder to the moon. Chances are you’ll find more luck there. What do I want from employers? A fighting chance without having to compromise my ideals would be great. So where the things you brought up were great, something to strive for, it isn’t that simple. We need jobs first, someone to give us the experience we need, need someone to give us a chance. – A
In response to: How much should you be paying your Charlotte babysitter?
“I just read your article and as a babysitter/nanny myself, we do a lot more than you think. Even if it’s just a date night, somethings can happen (child wakes up crying asking for the parents, randomly get sick and throw up, wanting to stay up and wait for you etc etc.) Yes $15/an hour is outrageous for someone who is just sitting there for 4 hours. I make that as a full time nanny. As a babysitter $10-$11 an hour is a fair rate. I know you are probably getting a lot of nannies emailing you, but for someone sitter there for 4 hours and paying $15 an hour while your child is asleep is definitely ridiculous.” – K
“Interesting article about babysitting rates. When our kids were little, we never paid a babysitter. We swapped with other friends that had kids. Watch their kids, they watch ours. Worked great. Now my daughters are babysitting. Oldest is 16, took the babysitting course at Red Cross when she was 11. Works for a local church doing babysitting for their Wed. night small group and babysits in the neighborhood. Her rate is around $10/hr. Second daughter is 14. Did her babysitting certification at Presbyterian Matthews hospital when she was 11. Babysits for meetings at a local church, and lots of babysitting in the neighborhood. Rate is also around $10/hr. One time they as a team watched a big group of preschoolers (friends of a couple we know) and each family paid $5/hr/kid. It was about 4 hr and my girls each came home with over $100 in their pocket. The other night my 14 yr old went and watched 1 child (4 yr old) and they offered her $15/hr, bought pizza for her and the girl. Super easy job and she came home with $63 in her pocket. When my girls were first starting out, one summer they worked for 2 different families with 4 preschoolers. They would be a mother’s helper (father’s helper in one family). I only charged the families $5/hr total for both girls to gain experience and learn to change diapers, learn crowd control, etc. They both gained valuable experience and are now confident, in demand babysitters. We also do dogwalking and dogsitting. But that’s a whole ‘nother post.” – D
“I would have voted but you left out the option of $0. We have never hired a babysitter in the 15 months we’ve spent as parents. What’s the point? By the time you pay one, you can’t go anywhere but for a walk around the block and maybe to McDonalds. We can do that with our kid for free. And we even have cash leftover for a Redbox movie for after the little one is asleep.” – Y
“I first want to thank you for addressing this concern parents have. I think you researched some facts about paying sitters in Charlotte, and spoke to a nationally based nanny agency, and free sitting service. I place nannies for a living and know they cost a good bit, but they are worth their weight in gold. As for babysitters, all of our sitters make $15-$20 an hour, but they are professionally trained nannies and childcare workers as well. I think 15 year olds get paid at least $13 an hour now. So $15 dollars an hour is not out of the norm at all. I would like the articles to be more clear that we are talking about hourly night time and weekend babysitting, and not professional nannies. I would also highly advise a background check as not everyone who wants to work in childcare has a clean record.” – E
“I just read your article about how much one should pay their babysitter in Charlotte, and I was frankly upset by the dismissive way in which you spoke about your sitter. I’m a childcare professional; I have degrees, certifications, special training, and years of experience with children of all ages. I love my work, am proud of what I do, and am confident that I provide a very important service with the highest level of quality and skill. I am what you refer to as “A+ babysitting talent,” and I, along with my fellow childcare providers, are deserving of your respect, not your derision at having to pay us a reasonable rate. If you really think your sitter just sits around watching TV the whole time you’re gone, why not just leave your baby home alone? But wait, that would be ridiculous, right? You would never do that. Because you love your child, you know he needs to be taken care of, and you want the most qualified person to do that. I would encourage you to think about that the next time you’re getting cash to pay your sitter. Your wife is right — you should tip her, and thank her for caring for the most important little person in your life. Your article has already been viewed over three thousand times; please think about the type of message you’re sending to all of those people about their childcare providers.” – T
“Please, please, please do not tip the babysitter. The babysitter is getting paid to do a job. Every single penny of that payment goes directly to the babysitter. Tips are only appropriate when the entirety of the payment for the service does not go directly to the person providing the service. You tip a waiter/waitress because the amount paid for the meal does not all go directly to the server. You tip a hairdresser because the amount paid for the hair cut does not all go directly to the stylist. Thank you.” – A
“First off let me say I think it’s great how much you adore your son. Very sweet. But a babysitter is so much more than a person who sits on the couch. Especially when you take into consideration we are taking time out of our schedules from nights out to be there for you. Rates vary depending on age, experience, qualifications, etc. I am personally 36, a mom myself, a career nanny, CPR & first aid certified, reliable as can be, never cancel, and am devoted to my families. Even if I am not free I can offer a backup nanny in a heartbeat. Built in back ups. College kids might be cheaper but I’ve received 15+ calls over the past 6 months approximately from families desperately needing a sitter last minute because the 19 yr old was “sick” (or as I like to say – something more important popped up and your plans aren’t as important). I even cancelled a night out on my own time because I felt so bad for 1 of these desperate families. So yes quality comes at a price. You also have to consider the potential for accidents, sickness, etc. Let’s say your son chokes and needs CPR or anything that could go wrong. As a mom I never trusted anyone but older nanny’s or moms. If you have any other questions about this, please don’t hesitate to ask.” – K
“We pay $10 (no tip) when they are awake and $5 to watch the monitor when they’re asleep. Ok, so the last part isn’t true but in my opinion it should be a sliding scale. If my kids are asleep drooling and they are watching my Game of Thrones on my HBO (because they’re not allowed to at home) why should i still be paying $10?” – T
In response to: The most gerrymandered school districts in Charlotte
“LOVE it! You finally found a perspective that avoids race and social engineering on this debate. I am somewhat of a map geek, and what you are looking for as a solution is called a Voronoi map. It is a map with boundaries drawn perfectly equidistant from select points. Here is how the US would look if states were drawn so they are equidistant from state capitals. And you are right about parents leaving too. We sure did before even entering CMS based upon the uncertainty of where we would be districted. We are glad we did too because what CMS is talking about now is exactly what we predicted. It is a no brainer that affluent, nuclear, involved and disciplined parents do not want their kids in classes with undisciplined rowdy emotional messed up kids who’s parents aren’t around. Great article!” – M
“I absolutely get the point of your article; i.e., it’s silly to bus kids out of the way around a closer school. However, I would like to raise an issue you may not have considered. Some, but not all, of the attendance zones are drawn to keep neighborhoods cohesive; i.e., all the kids go to the same school. One of the biggest risks to a neighborhood (or area of town) keeping its integrity and supporting an elementary to middle to high school path happens when an attendance boundary line is drawn through the neighborhood or cuts out a small portion of a neighborhood. An example – my kids went to Sharon School. In 1990 something, the School Board was on the verge of splitting our neighborhood of 95% public school kids between Landsdowne and Sharon. Landsdowne is a good school and was probably closer geographically (as was Olde Providence, but it was a magnet and impossible to get into), but Landsdowne is on the other side of Providence Road from where we lived. Providence is a big divider. NONE of my kids’ friends or my friends, for that matter, lived on the east side of Providence Road. It wasn’t a prejudice or economic thing, it was just a neighborhood thing. The people we spent time with and around lived west of Providence Road. Point being….you have to look at neighborhood boundaries, and some of them are not logical on a map. Artificially split neighborhoods do not lead to healthy neighborhoods.” – K
“Thank you for the article about gerrymandered school districts! The false dichotomy between busing and diversity has been driving me bonkers.” – Sincerely, a Charlotte native, Harding High School alum, and non-parent
“You made some valid points that we have noticed for a very long time. But there are some points that were left out or not accurate. Yes Myers Park boundary goes all the way to 51, but it also goes all the way past uptown Charlotte and pulls students from Grier Heights area which is very heavily low income. Myers Park is very diverse! Carmel Middle School is also a very diverse school because it does pull past Park Road and South Blvd. Again which is very diverse and mostly low income Latino or Hispanics. What really doesn’t make sense is why the neighborhoods south of Fairview are zoned AG and not Carmel. As far as lack of diversity any of the schools south of 51 are the worst! You did not cover that at all. Thank you for your article. CMS is being run by a dysfunctional school board who cannot agree on anything and continue to bicker with one another in public. We should be worrying about providing good education to all students regardless of whether the school is diverse or not. Provide proper support to the teachers in all classrooms, not just the schools that have a great PTA or PTSA. Provide resources such as teacher assistants for all classrooms especially those with a high concentration of poverty and “EC” students. Provide tutoring programs in those schools. Recruit great teachers and give them bonuses for going to high poverty schools. Create volunteer programs for parents to volunteer in all schools, not just the schools their children go to. CMS also needs to start building schools for future growth. They need to address the fact that there are over 1000 homesites that are built off Providence Road just south of 485…..where are those kids going to go? Providence is packed, AK is packed.” – A
“I wanted to thank you for your article on the gerrymandered school districts within CMS. Certainly this is an area ripe for improvement and moving some of the boundaries could be part of the solution, especially with regard to the high schools. However, I wanted to bring something to your attention that is arguably even more troubling. In my neighborhood, Sedgefield, the elementary district includes a wide socioeconomic and racial mix as it stretches from the 2 large public housing areas of Southside Homes and Brookhill on the west side, through the new apartments (probably few young kids) on the rail line, through the working class Marsh Properties duplexes east of South Blvd. on Poindexter and surrounding streets and all the way to Park Road where there is the large middle class Selwyn Farms neighborhood and north of Marsh where there are quite a few homes currently selling for $500-700K and even one that sold for $740,000 in 2015 on Cambridge Rd. However, despite this socioeconomic (and racial) diversity, the result in recent years has not been that this mix is reflected at the school; rather, those on the higher end of the socioeconomic spectrum (who are mostly white) do not attend Sedgefield Elementary and instead attend magnet, charter or private schools. The kids from the public / low-income housing and the duplexes (majority black and Latino) do attend Sedgefield and it currently has 95% of students receiving free or reduced lunch. There are LOTS of toddlers in the more advantaged areas of Sedgefield currently so this may change. It will be interesting to see if any change is made to the Sedgefield district boundary since that might tip the balance to convince parents to send their children there when they may be savvy and/or wealthy enough to have multiple options. Unfortunately I think that balanced boundaries will not do enough to really solve the problem and I wonder if there are other districts like Sedgefield where this is happening. In any event, I appreciate all of your school posts as well as the posts about race and other “hard” topics. A.W.F. Here is a link to the Sedgefield map.” – B
“I think the biggest issue for people is that if their school zone changes, their house could lose a lot of value. This is a real issue. Imagine, if you spent extra money to get into a good school district for your kids. Now all of a sudden they are switched to a underperforming school district. You end up losing a lot of money on your house and your kid is at a worse school. Sounds like a bad deal to me.” – R
“I wanted to thank you for the piece on gerrymandered schools in CMS. As an Agenda ‘early adopter,’ I’ve always loved the Agenda, but have been even more pleased to read the critical pieces being written about schools and other hot-button issues in Charlotte, in addition to learning where I can bring my dog while I grab a beer. I taught at West Charlotte for two years – I know exactly what kinds of challenges heavily segregated schools face, but I know the problem is solvable. All kids are capable of learning, and all kids deserve equal access to excellent education. I have been heavily frustrated by the “neighborhood schools” crowd veiling their racism with cries of “long bus rides.” The issue right now is that it’s “transportation” when you like your school and “bussing” when you don’t. There is absolutely a way to reorganize school boundary lines to balance out pockets of poverty without lengthening bus rides for most students (I bet it would even shorten the ride for some). I’m also deeply frustrated when the suggested solution to “bussing” is magnet schools. When I taught at WC, I had a student in the IB program who got on the bus at FIVE THIRTY in the morning for a 7:15 start time so he could get a better education. I would like the neighborhood schools crowd to explain to me how that’s not worse than “bussing.” As a 4-year resident of Charlotte who plans to be here for the long haul, I really hope CMS gets student assignment right this time around. But more importantly, I hope parents and community members learn to think more critically about the issues facing schools and realize a sensible solution to resegregation is necessary for all kids to get access to an equal and excellent education. These Agenda articles are a step in the right direction.” – L
“Completely agree that student assignment issue has no logic. Blame politics coupled with city leaders refusal to make hard decisions. CMS is too large of a system & would operate much more efficiently if broken up into 2-4 districts. In its current form there are too many moving parts to make the wholesale changes that are needed to create a progressive school system (including the busing issue). Thanks for pushing the dialogue!” – D
“There are many people in this community who have felt like lone soldiers in sounding voices of reasoning and honesty in this conversation. It is refreshing to see this perspective, and I hope to echo your sentiments and see a shift in some ego-inflated approaches to the topic of student assignment. There are many other examples of how we are “busing” now to create ideal learning environments for some and less than ideal for others. It would be nice to be able to find common ground and have decent, respectful conversations. After all, this is a collective future we are creating but the approach screams otherwise. It’s about the kids, not stereotypes that we are allowing to guide critical conversations. Thanks for bringing up such a great point and probing others to think about other possibilities.” – P
“Thank you for your article today about CMS and the busing controversy. You made the obvious plain(er). Who can argue with a map? 🙂 Some will find a way. I’ve been an educator for 18 years — 10 of those in CMS “at-risk” schools and now work for a non-profit servicing all schools in CMS (and nationwide). The segregation in this district is so evident when one goes to the different school sites to see our program in action. Furthermore, it’s immoral and destructive. I did my graduate work in Boston in the mid-90’s and we talked a lot about the unsuccessful desegregation of the Boston schools (southie and dorchester- literally butting up against one another)– and used CHARLOTTE’S Swann decision as a model. Look how far we’ve fallen…. thank you for keeping the conversation real.” – H
In response to: 135,000 people in condos and townhomes could soon lose city trash service
“Thank you for publishing the article about the Charlotte city government taking away garbage from any condo or townhouse community with more than 4 units. The true reason that the city wants to take away garbage pick up isn’t to ‘save’ the city $3.8 million, it’s because that garbage collection needs additional funding. Rather than the city raise everyone’s taxes evenly and fairly, the city wants to take away services that those tax paying citizens who live in condos and townhouses and reallocate it towards garbage collection. We condo owners will still paying the same property taxes, just losing our services. How is this fair?” – A
“I want to thank you for the ‘135,000 people in condos and townhomes could soon lose city trash service’ article that ran on Monday. I am a 26 year old, first time home owner who recently closed on a condo in February of this year. Due to the insane rent for a 1 bedroom apartment and rising single family home prices, I chose to purchase condo as it was the affordable option that worked with my non-profit salary. It is extremely alarming that my property taxes go towards trash pick up, but if they discontinue the service, my taxes will stay the same. I do not understand how this fair or justifiable at all. I have signed up to speak at a city council meeting because of this article and thank you for informing the community.” – J
In response to: Sabor Latin Street Grill is everything that’s right about Charlotte
Sabor Latin Street Grill sound a lot like The Burrito Factory on South Blvd. Best burrito I’ve ever tasted. Anyone remember when Spoons became Snoops in that Hawthorne location? I think they just moved the letters around on the sign. – M
In response to feedback in last week’s mailbag
“In response to: ‘In response to: Here’s what I told a friend about each of the neighborhoods in Charlotte‘ I get it. Trust me, I totally get it. There are established neighborhoods in Charlotte that don’t get much love these days unless you’re specifically asking about good schools, nice houses, and low crime. South Charlotte: There’s a reason it’s capitalized. For some it represents good values, for others it represents isolated communities. Physically, socially, economically. Yes, this shift in preferences toward “hip” inner city neighborhoods is powerful, and new. To be sure, we should not let the pendulum swing over into intolerance and (ironically) reverse-snobbishness toward those that choose to live in more established havens made for settling down with a family. There are, however, more things happening beneath the surface of this trend than just craft beer and density. When I grew up in one of those South CLT neighborhoods, the idea that I couldn’t get anywhere without a car or a ride was terribly isolating; The feeling that I had to be of a certain economic class as my classmates even more so. Then, I get out into the world and realize how sheltered I’d truly been from any meaningful interaction with people of classes and cultures than me. Personally, I don’t want any of that for my children. I want them to be able to meet different people by walking down the street, and to walk or bike to the library or the park with their friends. Beyond even that, there is also a “feel” and a “vibe” in many of these communities that may feel to many people as welcoming to only certain people. While this absolutely in no way reflects any given person living there, this phenomenon is there, nonetheless, and would do well be acknowledged. So when a hip publication like CA doesn’t give a neighborhood along the Randolph, Providence, or Park Rd corridors its due accolades, I encourage you to not take it for a sleight. Just understand there are many different types of communities in our city, with varying values. With that as a starting point, I know our city can continue to encourage bringing people together in meaningful ways. It’s a process.” – A
In response to: The South African Food Shop in Matthews filled a national void in international cuisine
“Thanks for the article on the South African Food Shop! I went to SA a couple years ago and have tried to pay them a visit every couple months since. Love the biltongs and the boerwors, and every time I go in there I have a good time talking to whoever’s at the register. Half the time I go in there, someone walks in who immediately notes that they drove from Raleigh/Columbia/somewhere ridiculously far away because it’s one of the only places on the east coast one can get legit British and South African food (which makes sense; I’ve never seen at least half of the items in that store anywhere else). Aside, the only sad part is my two favorite South African beverages aren’t carried because The Man doesn’t want you to have them: Sparletta creme soda, which apparently has a food coloring not allowed in the US (which perhaps explains the borderline offensive bright green color), and Castle beer, which apparently SAB used to import in limited quantities but they ended that practice when they merged with Miller. Cheers” – A
In response to: Should we ban cars from Uptown Charlotte?
“Yes, an idea mentioned previously and long overdue. Begin with Church, Tryon and College streets between Stonewall and Trade. Make the streets walking zones with a plan to put more retail (Gap, baby Nordstrom’s, Steinmart, Apple/Microsoft computer store, Nike store (discounts for folks who purchase walking sneakers), etc. You’re right. Much bolder ideas…” – G
“Regarding the banning of cars in uptown Charlotte, the first and easiest step is to close Tryon from the Mint Museum to 7th St. This is very realistic, and should/could be done immediately. I suppose a baby step would still allow traffic to *cross* Tryon, but the real deal would be no vehicles on or crossing. Put pavers and planters and new trees over the whole thing. Bring in food carts and pop-up vendors. Make Tryon one big beautiful sidewalk, with or without cross-traffic. Get it done!” – A
In response to: Top 15 spots to drink a beverage outside, by neighborhood
“I enjoyed the article this morning. I would add the rooftop at the Peculiar Rabbit. Awesome skyline views. And the patio at the Village Tavern tops Chuy’s. . . and the food is better!” – C
“Sycamore Brewing sure does get a lot of love on the Agenda, and I will concede that it has a lot going for it. However, to state definitively yesterday that it is “the #1 outside spot to hang out in Charlotte right now – it’s not even close” seems like a really bold declarative statement. I would also call it untrue… am I the only one who likes to be able to get up to the bar and order a beer in less than 20 minutes? Am I the only one who likes to be able to find parking within a one-mile radius? Am I the only one who feels like I’m at a frat party when I go to Sycamore on the weekend? Maybe I’ve just been at all the wrong times, but going to Sycamore always feels a little bit more like a meat market of recent college grads than a place for friends to relax and enjoy some great beer. And they do have it – Sycamore’s brew selection is expansive and delicious, and they also do have a truly great outdoor space (to say nothing of it now being home to Food Truck Friday as well), but it is such a chore to go and simply get your hands on a beer. And if you’re not wearing your frattiest getup or your sexiest sundress, there’s a good chance you’re going to stick out like a sore thumb. I was happy to see it not take the top spot in today’s “14 Charlotte Breweries Ranked by Their Outdoor Spaces” – the top 5 spot is well-deserved, but Sycamore is not everyone’s cup of tea – or should I say… pint of beer?” -R
In response to: 15 photos of my experience at the new Kid Cashew restaurant in Dilworth
“Just read again about Kid Cashew. While I agree the decor is lovely and I have enjoyed my meals both times I have eaten there, I will not return unless I can get an outside table. At least the traffic noise is intermittent, unlike the noise inside this restaurant, and, unfortunately, many others that have opened recently. The first time I was there I was with a friend and we could barely carry on a conversation. The next time it was with a group of 5 and the only person you could talk to was the one next to you. I had a headache by the time I left because I was straining to hear the person across the table from me. Chopt is the same way – I only get salads to go and, if the line is too long, will go somewhere else. The noise is overwhelming. I did talk to the manager at Kid Cashew and he said he has heard this complaint before. So I am not alone. The food was great, inventive and fresh. I’ll be taking it to go if the weather is not suitable for sitting outside. It’s a shame – I get the vibe they are going for and would like to relax and enjoy a meal there. And perhaps I am not the demographic they are shooting for but … I am disappointed that many of the new, great places in town continue to move in this industrial-look, no sound-absorbing decor. If, like Tara said, they are intentionally trying to make the space feel like a family dining room, they need to add some wall/ceiling sound-absorbing material so a family can have a conversation while eating.” – J
In response to: Should I feel guilty for parking free at 7th Street Public Market and not buying anything?
“As someone who parks in that garage as part of my work commute, I will say that I don’t care if you park there for free, as long as your meetings are around lunch-time. I need (and pay monthly for) spaces to park in the morning, so please don’t take those from me. Also- as long as you aren’t one of THOSE PEOPLE who parks in the wrong spots (C stands for compact, not “car”), you can stay. ” – K
In response to Charlotte needs a big switch on trash and recycling
“I totally, completely agree! My husband and I produce 3 to 4 times recyclable waste as trash. Just please remember that plastic bags are not recyclable and can actually damage the machines. We get paper bags from the grocery store and put our recyclables in those before tossing them in the bin. Save the plastic bags for dirty cat litter or take them to Teeter to re-use. So glad you did a story on this!” -T
“Perhaps more important than getting recycling every week, which I’m all in favor of, is following the rules and procedures as they exist. Get those plastic and trash bags out of your recycling, they’re not recyclable and are specifically banned from recycling bins. That forces recycling workers at the sorting facility to stop the whole assembly line, empty the recyclables out of your trash and plastic bags, throw your plastic bags away, and pull the plastic off of that flat of water bottles, holding up the entire system.” -R
