Letter: With a little effort, recycling works

Sunday, July 16, 2006 | 7:49 a.m.

Regarding John Fitzpatrick's Santa Barbara trash collection experience that he recounted in his July 9 letter, "Once-a-week pickup has too many flaws":

The point of recycling is ecological, not financial reward for refuse companies. There simply is not enough safe land space to house the nondegradable result of our modern lifestyle.

In my prior weekly trash collection experience in Pahrump, when my free container became insufficient I simply telephoned the company. I received a second container and paid a reasonable charge for generating more than average refuse.

As for odor, using the garbage disposal and rinsing milk bottles and food tins rids the source of most odor. A sprinkle of baking soda or a spritz of disinfectant room deodorizer into the plastic liners of indoor receptacles takes care of the rest.

Almost none of my neighbors recycle. Having seen a couple of landfills, I am willing to do whatever it takes to encourage fellow Las Vegans to recycle.

Dorothy Day, Las Vegas