Let's kill two birds with one stone. Have the USPS replace the bulk rates with the first class rates. The US Postal Service would start to operate in the black and we wouldn't be buried in junk mail. It would also save trees.

To answer the original question about mandatory recycling, I believe one answer is that the fee charged to your VCCDD Utility Bill requires mandatory payment and unlike recycling in other jurisdictions recycling was never set up in TV to be self supporting through payments received for recycled items.

Let's not change the bag requirements. I, for one, would rather not see bins and barrels blowing/ floating all over the neighborhood.

As others have said, putting junk mail in the trash receptacles is a real problem at the post offices. At ours, those receptacles are always full. Management's excuse, I have read somewhere, is that people will put dog poop in them, and unfortunately, they're probably right. I think an easy solution is to remove all the trash receptacles. then people will take home their junk mail and hopefully recycle it. If there are no trash receptacles, people won't use them for dog poop either. Voila!

Agree:BigApplause:

People can also spend a little time online reducing the amount of junk mail they get. For catalogs, I've found that contacting the company directly works best. Other resources:

Consumerist
Catalog Choice
Direct Marketers
Privacy Rights
FTC
Valpak

And they will still be used as a depository for dog waste.

You can also opt out of all those telephone books at the link below. It takes about two minutes to register. I was able to opt out of SEVEN telephone books.
The Villages Phone book is not on this list, so you will still receive that one. It's the only one I use anyway.
https://www.yellowpagesoptout.com

I agree with mulligan. Especially when you consider that renters don't necessarily leave the day before trash pickup. In that case the bins could sit in front of the home for quite a long time. Also, I consider buying a roll of recycle bags for a couple of bucks (that seem to last for almost forever) to be a small price for an attractive neighborhood.

And plastic is very good at containing odors that BLOOM in this heat. If the big ole black birds will just leave the bags alone.

Vinny and Wife, I am pleased you asked the question about whether recycling in mandatory in The Villages. The state of Florida has a collective goal to recycle 75% of its materials by the year 2020. In 2013, Marion County's recycle rate was approx. 48%. Lake County's recycle rate was approx. 33%. Sumter County's recycle rate was very disappointing at approx. 21%. If you think our recycling participation could be increased to help Florida's statewide goal, please RECYCLE MORE (and use less). Thank you. Source: http:depnewsroom.wordpress.com. Queen

I recycle everything I can. I want to recycle. I like to recycle. The thought of being fined because I didn't recycle my trash kinda bothers me. Who goes through your trash to see if you failed to recycle? Wow! I wouldn't want that job!

As far as bins go, my Mother-in law lives in California and has 3 very large bins for her trash....reg trash..recycle trash and yard waste. It takes up half of her garage and many of her neighbors don't bother to put it inside. What an ugly mess around the neighborhood.

Yep, Old Bridge NJ.