Who Profits from Recycling?

It is heartening that 72% of all California beverage containers were recycled in the first half of 1990, but one wonders who reaped the profits therefrom. In the entire Conejo Valley, I can locate only two markets/recycling centers which pay for recyclables.

If the Conejo Valley is representative, it appears that a significant portion of the $300 million in consumer deposits were “donated”/dumped into unattended bins, benefiting someone other than the deposit-paying consumer. Amending the law to require retailers to collect the containers which they sell, and refund deposits, would better serve the public and likely increase the return rate even more.

GARY L. WARTIK

Westlake Village