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Treasured program replaced with 2nd Generation
For more than 15 years, the Trash to Treasure program helped connect those with excess to their neighbors in need. Operated by Fauquier County Environmental Services at the Corral Farm Convenience Site adjacent to the landfill, the program allowed residents to drop off slightly used but still usable items so that others in need could take them home.Increased abuses to the system, however, forced the county to adopt a new program, which was implemented Nov. 15. And while it meets the main objective of Environmental Services ? keeping items out of the landfill ? the new program has been received with displeasure by some residents who frequented Trash to Treasure.
Though Trash to Treasure worked well for more than a decade, Trish Ethier, recycling education coordinator for the environmental services department, said that problems with the program had gotten progressively worse over the last 18 months.
“People who brought in items with good intentions of having it go to someone else who could use it were seeing [the items] for sale at garage sales and white elephant sales,” Ethier said, adding that competition for donated items at the Trash to Treasure site had become intense.
“It could get rough out there,” she said. “People were hanging out and waiting for more stuff to take. They would come out and take items from people's cars and put them into their cars.
“We had parking lot jams. There were so many parked cars at the convenience center that people coming to do recycling, couldn't get through.”
To address those problems, and continue to keep useful items out of the landfill, Environmental Services implemented 2nd Generation. This reuse program offers the same drop-off opportunities as its predecessor, but the big change is in how those items are distributed.
Residents are no longer allowed to pick up donated items at the convenience site, Ethier said, adding that the county is developing relationships with community assistance agencies and will donate items to them rather than having residents pick up items at the site.
“We've had lots of inquires from those who want to drop things off, but are concerned about where it's going to go,” Ethier said. “We've also had complaints from people who used Trash to Treasure. And I understand that person's point of view.”
One Fauquier County resident who spoke on condition of anonymity, was particularly upset with the closure of Trash to Treasure. Pregnant with her seventh child, the woman explained that her family has been able to replace broken or worn out furniture with newer pieces from Trash to Treasure. Since her husband's work hours were cut in half several weeks ago, the woman said that the family had hoped to pick up holiday gifts for the children at Trash to Treasure.
Though she noted that her family would qualify for government assistance, she said that they prefer to maintain their autonomy and not become part of the assistance system.
“Going to Trash to Treasure makes it more anonymous. It's embarrassing to contact groups for help. There's a lot of paperwork, and they want to know a lot of personal information,” she said. “Trash to Treasure allows the poor to keep some of their dignity instead of going to others for help.
“I don't feel like it's right. It forces the poor to have to go to these agencies, to have no dignity. You have to basically let them know what's going on in your life. It makes you feel exposed. This was there, and it helped our family.”
While this resident said her family only took what they could use from Trash to Treasure, she said was sympathetic to others who took items to sell.
“I seriously doubt that any of the people who were doing that are well off themselves,” she said. “It was a way for them to get a little extra money. It was allowing them to have some dignity and make some money without having to go to the government all of the time. Maybe they needed that money. There are millions of jobs being lost across the country. There are going to be a lot more people in that situation.”
While Ethier said that she understands the frustration of residents who were using the system in the way it was intended, she said that abuse of the program had gotten out of hand.
“I do feel for people, but it was just becoming a nasty problem,” she said. “The creation of 2nd Generation was the result of the need for resident safety here at the Corral Farm Convenience Site and that our operations could not keep up with the demand for the Trash to Treasure program any longer. We hope that working through charitable organizations, the county will be able to assist those in need as well as keep good reusable items out of the landfill.”
The program is still in the early stages of development, Ethier said, adding that thus far the county has an agreement with Community Touch Inc. in Bealeton, which operates a transitional housing unit, food pantry, and thrift store. She said she expects other agencies to sign on, as well, noting that participants will pick up donated items and either sell them or give them out through a voucher program. Money raised by selling the items, she pointed out, will go back into the agencies to be used to help those in need.
The 2nd Generation program accepts donations during the convenience site's operating hours. The program does not accept mattresses, appliances, tires, food, clothes, paints, hazardous materials, televisions, monitors, electronics, air conditioners, or lawn equipment.
For more information, call (540) 347-6811.
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