Opinion: Recyclers to the rescue!
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Kindred spirit Stephanie Herrick commiserated over the trouble with finding recycling bins in LA:
I just read your October 22, 2007 article ... I feel exactly the same way you do, and have been struggling with finding places to recycle (and people who care) for the past 5 years that I have lived in apartments in Los Angeles. I moved here from Seattle where throwing away paper or bottles in the trash is an abhorrent sin. Yet here in LA, I drive around at night looking for a blue bin to throw my bags of recycling in, afraid the whole time I’ll get caught.
I have to admit, such dedication brings tears to my eyes. I mean, I just walk the nearest few blocks, clanking trash bag in tow, looking for all the world like another bum on the street. But Herrick goes the distance. She’s like a recycling Robin Hood.
Fear not, there is a point to this post. She asks,
Can you please send me the information you have on the free program you mentioned for apartments? I would volunteer my time to call apartment owners, asking them to sign up for the program. I think if they new about it and were coaxed a bit, many of them would go for it. I know I will call my apartment owner right away with the information.
Absolutely. Here’s an intro to the free recycling program, along with instructions for how to get your building/condo/mobile home enrolled. Check it out — it won’t cost you anything but a phone call or an e-mail.
If you like what you see, follow Herrick’s lead and spread the word. It’s a great program, but in a town as big as LA, it needs all the advertising help it can get.