Imported Garbage Will Cost Us Plenty

Re: Orange County’s plan to import garbage from neighboring counties:

Post-bankruptcy, Orange County officials appear to have been considering every possibility of generating money, even when such ideas go against public interest.

Orange County’s excess landfill capacities are due in large part to the recession and a seemingly well-working recycling system. Why should this trend reverse?

Officials should be proud of the fact that the recycling system in Orange County seems to work better than in neighboring counties. But what is the basic idea of recycling other than the reduction of waste and preserving resources? If Orange County sells its excess landfill capacities to other counties, the idea of recycling itself is sacrificed. This measure also discourages other officials from further developing their own recycling systems to reduce the amount of garbage produced.

The amount of waste destined for local landfills, as set by the state, represents the maximum storage capacity for those facilities. Is there really a need to meet this maximum capacity? In commercial ventures, maximum output doesn’t always equate to optimal output. Why should this be different for landfills that are run like business organizations? Perhaps this is because the environment doesn’t have a quantifiable market value, like other commodities.

If the market value of an improvement in the quality of life by reducing the amount of waste is only $2 per month (“County Tests Interest in Importing Garbage for Extra Cash,” May 4,) I am certain that people of Orange County will be willing to pay this amount, rather than import garbage from neighboring counties.

KARL NOESTLER

Newport Beach