That’s not trash. It’s future food

Re “Los Angeles quietly rolls out curbside composting,” editorial, Jan. 19

Your editorial did not mention that different cities have different composting rules. Some cities allow bones in the compost bin; others do not. Some cities allow compostable bags with the BPI symbol, but apparently Los Angeles does not.

I am 75 years old, and I enjoy knowing that my food waste is going somewhere useful. But, I have the time to think about what goes into the compost bin; I am sure many busy families do not. Deciding how and where to store leftover food until pickup day will take time.

Patience by city officials throughout the state will be required, and I hope the education efforts you mention for L.A. really do happen everywhere.

In the last few years, we’ve dealt with a pandemic and have been asked to cut back water and energy use. Now we are being told to do curbside composting. Most of us don’t just need the guidelines; we need to be sold on how good this is for the environment and for all of us.

I’m sold on the concept, but others may need convincing.

Susan Ostrowsky Newport Beach

You state, “The city also needs to be very clear about what materials are allowed in the green bin.”

Given the city’s duplicitous and vague public ministrations about what should go into the blue recycling bin, I do not await clear, concise instructions.

The Times should do more by publishing and clarifying rules, and training users to maximize best-use trash disposal habits. William K. Solberg

Los Angeles