I try to be a responsible homeowner. I gather the things I need to throw away, but cannot include in the city’s weekly trash and recycling pickups, and I take them to the city recycling center in my own vehicle.

On my most recent trip, however, I took a few pieces of wood and had to pay $25 to put them in the wood pile. I think this is way too steep.

The city of Portland outsourced to save money, and now its citizens have to pay an outrageous fee to keep their homes clean and safe. Portland should either eliminate this fee or bring back the big-item dump days and encourage its citizens to recycle.

Don Caouette

Portland