COMPLIANCE HIGHER

A recent StarPhoenix article notes with some disappointment that the apparent compliance rate for leaving recycling bins at the curb is less than twothirds.

I wonder though, how many households do as we do: We do not put out our recycle bin unless it is nearly full. This happens approximately once every six weeks. If you were to judge by our frequency, it would appear that we have only a one-third rate of compliance. as we do, with the consequence that the actual compliance rate may be significantly greater than is apparent simply by counting the number of bins put out every two weeks. David Klatt Saskatoon

There is a good reason for not putting out the bin until it is nearly full, unless it gets too heavy. But we find that our recyclables do not add up to a lot of weight. The whole point of this project is to benefit the environment, is it not?

A significant portion of the fuel expenditure and brake usage for the trucks is realized during the accelerating and stopping sequence between bins. We are putting 10 tonnes of truck into motion and stopping it, in addition to operating the lift mechanism, to pick up a few pounds of recycles. The bin itself often probably weighs more than its contents.

If we can reduce the number of these start/stop cycles by not putting out our bins unless they are nearly full, is this not being more environmentally responsible?

I suspect that a goodly number of households do