Help Me Hank: Help Me Hank! Going green

Colleen's going green. She always recycles her empty containers and unneeded papers doing her part to help the environment.

Colleen Gleason, Boston resident
"I know I can't make major steps, but I can do little things."

When she moved to her Brighton home she knew she could be part of Boston's free recycling program. First she needed to call City Hall to order her blue bin.

Colleen Gleason, Boston resident
"They said it would take one to two weeks."

Everyday when she came home from work, she checked for the bin. But after two weeks, nothing came. How can she be green without the blue? Colleen was told city records showed a bin had indeed been dropped off.

Colleen Gleason, Boston resident
"She told me most likely someone had taken it or stolen it from our front porch."

The city said another bin was on the way. Meantime, Colleen's recyclables were piling up. So she made a sign that said "please recycle" and put it next to a bag full of her stuff on the curb.

But that didn't get picked up! Another two weeks and still no bin.

She called the city again and was told again it had been delivered. Please she said try again! This time she snuck her recycling into her neighbors bin! Don't tell, ok?

Colleen Gleason, Boston resident
"I felt a little guilty but I had to get things done."

Another two weeks, no bin, another phone call! The same answer! The bin had been delivered.

Colleen Gleason, Boston resident
"It just seemed like a poor excuse."

All Colleen wanted to do was recycle. Two months later, she took a co-workers advice.

Colleen Gleason, Boston resident
"I wrote to Hank."

The City of Boston told us their records showed public works had left a blue bin at Colleen's house four times!

They guessed that someone was taking it to use for storage, or maybe to use for their own recyclables or as we saw when it snowed to hold a parking spot. We asked the city to try once more and this time it worked. Colleen's now got the blue, and she's going green.

Colleen Gleason, Boston resident
"It was the happiest day ever, I came home from work and there it was."

Hank Phillippi Ryan, Investigative Reporter
Boston city officials tell us it should be easy to get your own recycling blue bin. Different communities of course have different systems.

(Copyright (c) 2008 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)