[cabo35]

While it is a politically correct, feel good about saving the earth position to support recycling, I am not certain that the manner in which it has been forced upon Villagers is so warm and fuzzy. An arguably small group of activists has pressed their ideology and as a result a significant loss of collection service and an increase in cost for every Village resident seems to be the pending result. The far reaching implications for happy Villagers include the abrupt reduction of quality and efficiency that are evident in a collection system residents are overwhelmingly satisfied with.

If those that passionately embrace recycling are so certain that most people agree with them, they shouldn't be afraid of a referendum that would give all stakeholders in the decision (all Village residents) an opportunity to vote their sentiment. Given the current option of cutting pickups to once a week, increasing costs and the prospect of bagged garbage simmering in the summer heat for a full week, I think more than a few shareholders would want the decision taken back to the drawing board. More insight might give rise to more viable options.

In some European countries the purported benefits of recycling are starting to come under challenge. On this side of the Atlantic, a number of local governments are defunding recycling programs. The research is on going. The jury is still out.

As a young sapling before tree hugging was in vogue, I was raised with a consciousness and appreciation of the environment. For many today, that awareness has risen to a politically correct and stylish cult status. For me, it's less the recycling than having a small, vocal minority influence the decision making process so dramatically and speaking for so many who do not fully agree with them and much less the decision that resulted from their well intentioned activism.

Village residents need a dialogue and a referendum on this important issue before sweeping changes are implemented.