Editor:
This is the time of year to take care of leaves, branches and all other yard waste. Like other years, homeowners in the city of Rhinelander rake, trim and bag all the leaves and waste into plastic bags. The city of Rhinelander picks up the bags and takes them to the landfill. We appreciate their work.
As I consider the efforts we all make to recycle newspapers, cardboard, cans, glass, plastic and paper, I am confused as to why we use plastic bags for our leaf/yard waste clean-up. These bags end up in the landfill.
Wouldn’t it be a better choice to use paper bags?
Some communities rake the leaves to the curb and their city picks them up. I realize this would require a costly piece of equipment….the but the landfill would have lots less plastic in it.
Wouldn’t it be a better choice to use paper bags?
The environment would improve with the use of the paper bags, rather than the plastic bags. 
Maybe we should consider this for our community.
Deb Drake, Rhinelander