‘Narrow View’ on Noisy Recycling

Regarding the article concerning noise complaints of the Ranchos Palos Verdes recycling center (Times, Oct. 7):

It may be galling to Mr. (Vincent) DiFiore to have “this operation” so near his home, but it is even more galling to me to want to build a golf course (just what Rancho Palos Verdes needs, another golf course) in place of a vital, functioning part of the effort to save ourselves from drowning in our own garbage.

I’m sorry if it disturbs Mr. DiFiore’s pool-side entertaining, but some people actually happen to think that doing their part to clean up the environment is just a bit more important. It is this “not in my back yard” attitude, which has stunted the growth of earth-saving places like the recycling center and the help they provide.

It is wonderful that curbside recycling has finally become a reality, but it will take bureaucratic time before this is available to everyone, so the center is still a vital part of the community. The figures quoted in the article reflect that.

It is quite a narrow view to want to close down something that benefits us so much, that is so desperately needed by the environment, but because for the comparatively few hours, it is open it is a bit noisy. Do people who live on busy streets go around trying to shut them down because they’re noisy? (That’s 24-hour noise, believe me, I know!) No, for it is a necessary thing. I’m not denying that the residents near the center may be slightly inconvenienced, but in the big picture the good the center provides us for the environment far outweighs a little noise at a pool party.

JULIE LUNDGREN

Torrance