The following letter was emailed to the Recycling Commission several months after the enforcement of mandatory recycling began this past February. It is posted on the Patch by the Commission with the permission of the resident who wrote it.
Dear Westford Recycling Commission,
I spoke to you one afternoon in February after my trash barrels remained where they were placed after the collection folks came. The collections folks informed me that per the town’s instruction, unless my recycling material was out alongside, my trash would remain, alone and uncollected, ridiculed and made fun of by all the other containers on the street.
Well as a taxpayer I would not stand for this. I did as most Americans would do. I whined, I b******, I whined some more.
A member of the Recycling Commission was nice enough to take my call and calmly explain that Westford pays for everything it leaves at the local garbage drop off place (forgive the technical terms) in addition to the benefits to the environment if we remove certain material (let’s call them recyclable material) less will be dumped, thus reducing the town’s cost.
Well despite the obvious propaganda I was hearing I decided I would give it a try. The purpose of this email is to say, Sorry, you were right and I was, well, let's say less right.
If my household is any indication of what recycling can save in barrels sent to the dump vs. sent to the dump after recycling, well you got a point.
I am quite amazed. There are only two of us, but the reduction is amazing. The norm of 2-3 barrels is down to one and that contains sometimes as little as a garbage bag perhaps two.
I read once that people are often brought along in good causes in three ways. Willingly, reluctantly, and even a few, kicking and scream.
If there are any hold outs remaining, send them this email.