Set reasonable goals

Re: BDN July 18, page B1, “Towns short of recycling goals.”

“The Legislature set a municipal recycling target as of Jan. 1, 1994, of 50 percent. Only two towns have reached that goal, Cranberry Isles — 67.6 percent, and Monson — 53.6 percent of their waste.”

Now, Monson is my hometown and I know the town manager personally. I know how hard they all have worked to accomplish this goal. I know how conscientious the town manager, Jeanne B. Reed, is. When the state says do this, there are no ifs, ands or buts about it, it’s done!

It takes someone to inspire the people and the people to do the aggravating work of recycling. The people of Monson and the people of Cranberry Isles have learned a new way of life. They met the goal and then some. The punishment was to be a stiff fine if they failed. Small towns can’t afford stiff fines, so they learned how, and did it! Now — the state agency is going to fine any town that didn’t accomplish 35 percent.

Where is the justice? Where is the reward for the two towns who met the goal? Their town managers, their recycle attendants and their citizens, weren’t even mentioned in the article in the BDN. We should be celebrating these two towns, not forgiving the towns who didn’t accomplish the goal.

Where has the state’s credibility gone? With the wind! The state rewards those who fail; at least it appears that way!

The state needs to set reasonable goals — provide funds needed to accomplish these goals, then punish those who don’t accomplish the goal and reward those who do. Use some of the fines levied on all who didn’t accomplish the goal and give those who did a bonus.

After all, you are in Augusta to serve the people in these towns in a fair and just manner. Get your priorities straight, Augusta! You might get your credibility back! Susan E. Marshall Bangor