Las Vegas Sun

December 5, 2009

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Letter: A no-brainer to boost recycling

Monday, June 7, 2004 | 9:22 a.m.

Recycling is not easy in Las Vegas. Why? Because it is only collected once every other week, while garbage is collected twice weekly!

We are a family of dedicated recyclers and I would estimate that we recycle at least two, possibly three, times the amount we dispose as garbage. By the end of two weeks, that is an enormous amount of debris in our garage.

We have three sets of Republic Services recycling bins -- nine bins total -- and we routinely overflow these. If recycling was picked up as often as garbage, or even once a week, it would be much easier to participate.

Even better, if Republic Services were to provide recycling containers like the ones used in parts of California -- 90-gallon, lidded garbage cans on wheels into which you throw all your recyclables, including plastic, paper, and glass, without sorting -- how many more people do you think would make the effort?

Didn't I recently read in the Sun that 25 percent of waste nationwide is recycled, and a praiseworthy 50 percent in California, compared with 10 percent here? We should be ashamed!

ALYSON FOX

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