Chicago Woman Wants Post Office To Recycle Rubber Bands

(CBS) -- Have you ever picked up rubber bands left behind by a postal carrier? One Chicago woman has done a lot of that, and says it's a waste.

Ella Peach says she has been picking up hundreds of rubber bands around her Northwest Side neighborhood.

"It's not just my neighborhood it's around the city and if it's around the city it's around everywhere. The Post Office is spending money for all these rubber bands and I priced them at the stores and for 100 you have to pay about $5."

Post Office spokesman Mark Reynolds could not say how much is spent on rubber bands, but did tell WBBM, "It's a pretty significant part of our business, especially for carriers getting their routes together to go out and deliver them."

Reynolds also says "we do encourage our carriers to be good neighbors in the communities they serve and try not to leave the rubber bands on the ground but things like that do happen."

And Reynolds says there is also the problem of rubber bands breaking.

Peach says it's simple.

"Picking up rubber bands! How much money will that be when you think of all the other postal persons throughout the United States?"