Prisoners Recycle, Too

Pueblo to Eads

Fun fact: Fremont County, the county to the immediate west of Pueblo, is known as “the prison capitol of the west.”  It has twelve state prisons and four federal prisons, including an Administrative Maximum Penitentiary, or “super max” security prison.  The “super max” is home to several terrorists including shoe bomber Richard Reid, Ramzi Yousef (1993 WTC bombing), and Zacarias Moussaoui (9/11 co-conspirator).  While it seems odd that Pueblo should house so many convicts, it is actually beneficial to the county’s economy—and environment.  It turns out that the lower security prisoners, who are set to be released soon, are an essential part to the county’s recycling program.  The prisoners provide labor to the county, and pick up recyclables as part of the Upper Arkansas Recycling program.

Pueblo County also recycles, but pick up services are not available to the actual city of Pueblo, only to West Pueblo.  There are drop off locations within the city, however, where residents can recycle glass, newspapers, and cans.  

We discussed this with Jack and Donna, the couple that we stayed with last night.  The woman that Dave contacted on couchsurfing.org couldn’t host us, but recommended we contact Jack, her former biology professor (at CSU Pueblo).  Since their children moved out of the house (almost 30 years ago), they’ve loved hosting exchange students.  We, of course, loved being hosted as well.  Jack took us out to dinner at a Mexican restaurant last night, and this morning, Donna made us omelettes.  Good food, beds that don’t deflate, generous people, and showers.  We didn’t want to leave, but we had to continue on to Eads today.

Outside Jack and Donna's house in West Pueblo

Flat and rural indeed

Once we left Pueblo, it felt like we were already in Kansas.  It’s flat, rural, and agricultural.  AKA boring.  And, unfortunately for Dave, the winds are also blowing from east to west, hitting him with an unfortunate headwind.  I rode with him for 30 miles today, since Austin’s off the bike; but two flat tires, flesh-eating flies, the wind, and the heat made today quite difficult.  And we’re not even in Kansas yet.