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(Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection - Letter to the Editor)

What a shame that the City (and the County) didn’t devise a plan for residents in the outskirts of Parkersburg to continue to recycle. Instead, we hear of the abrupt closing of that very nice recycling center (near the Memorial Bridge) on May 1, 2026.

As I think about how my husband and I purchased recycling containers we use to gather our recyclables at home and the years we took our recyclables to that center, it’s disheartening. It’s a lot of work but it’s worth it in knowing that we are not polluting. As I think about some parents who are great examples for their kids by showing them how to recycle and diligently taking recyclables there, again it’s disheartening that they can no longer do so.

What is the City (and County) teaching kids? That it’s fine to dump recyclables into the landfill? What will be the long-term effect on our environment?

It’s sickening to think about everyone (who isn’t in the City) being forced (with no other options) to throw their glass, plastics, aluminum cans, and cardboard directly into the trash and it going straight to the landfill. Let’s hope that the landfill has plenty of room.

It doesn’t seem like much thought was put into the decision to close that center May 1. It begs the question “Can those in charge do better?”

While I understand the need for the City to cut costs; given that they had been doing the recycling, what would it have hurt to have extended it until a good solution was found? It’s truly a shame.

We, and some others, would have been willing to pay a fee to recycle but that was never discussed (I’m referring to residents in the outskirts of the city).

Linda Perry

Washington, W.Va.