JOSEPH A unsavory dump of garbage, including five big black plastic bags full of household refuse, is resulting in the removal   at least temporarily of the big green recycle bins from the Joseph public parking lot.

The garbage found Wednesday in front of the recycle containers by city public works employees, who photographed the mess.

It was the last straw for the city.

This has been consistent problem since the recycle containers were put there, said city recorder Donna Warnock in an e-mail Friday, Nov. 16. The recycle containers are scheduled to be picked up on Tuesday morning and will remain gone until further notice.

The containers placed for the convenience of Joseph residents to recycle plastic, paper, cardboard, cans and glass are owned by the Wallowa County recycling program, which periodically takes the Joseph recyclables into the Enterprise recycle site.

Warnock said that public works employee Jake Thompson found a name associated with the garbage, which was turned over to the Wallowa County Sheriffs Office for action.

The city staff conferred with mayor Dennis Sands before deciding to remove the containers at least temporarily. The ongoing problem, which has been discussed at past Joseph City Council meetings, is expected to be on the agenda at the Dec. 6 council meeting.

I feel really bad that its going to hurt all the people who use the recycle containers correctly, Warnock said.