LETTERS TO THE EDITOR | Curbside recycling wastes resources


December 7, 2012 · Updated 4:22 PM 

To the editor

The academic economist Daniel Benjamin has studied the economics of recycling in some depth. Although he finds that some kinds of recycling often make sense, municipal curbside programs never do. Curbside recycling wastes precious resources, and in Island County would almost certainly harm the environment more than it would help.

Our county commissioners would be well advised not to embark on new, expensive programs during hard times. Especially if they won’t work.

Unless we don’t really care about the environment. Maybe we just want to show how virtuous we are and feel good about ourselves by spending other people’s money.

Lew Randall

Freeland

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