HEARTS OF THE CITY: Exploring attitudes and issues behind the news.

A rotating panel of experts from the worlds of philosophy, psychology and religion offer their perspectives on the dilemmas that come with living in Southern California.

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Today’s question: Although the practice is illegal in cities such as Los Angeles, roving individuals, presumably for their own profit , often take newspapers and other items left by residents for recycling collection by sanitation trucks . Ethically speaking, should we regard them as the enterprising needy or as scavengers robbing the city?

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Donald E. Miller, USC professor of religion and co-author of “Homeless Families: The Struggle for Dignity”

“The current debate over people supplementing their incomes by picking through another family’s trash is a commentary on the state of our economy, not a statement about the moral corruption of those engaged in the practice. I favor not policing this activity because: 1) the goal of recycling is not being compromised; 2) It is an efficient means of income redistribution that has no bureaucracy and also honors the work ethic; 3) The expense of policing this activity would not be commensurate with the economic gains that might be achieved. Furthermore, a similar practice is described in the Old Testament in which harvesters left a portion of each field for the poor to glean. Might ‘trash gleaning’ be the equivalent analogue in our society to this biblical practice?”

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R. Patricia Walsh, professor of psychology at Loyola Marymount University

“In my neighborhood, I have seen many types of scavengers. I think their treatment should depend on who they are. The poor Hispanic couple who must walk the streets and rummage through trash in order to feed their children should not be harassed by local residents. The gentleman who drives an expensive new truck down each street every trash collection day should be told to find a more legal way to make a living.”

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Michael Mata, professor of urban ministry, School of Theology at Claremont

“Our public spaces--beaches, parks, vacant lots and gutters--are cleaner and less cluttered. Our trash is sifted for reusable products. Willing human labor is engaged in the tedious task of recycling. These consummate recyclers may be a nuisance, but the fruit of their labor appears to far outweigh their modest earnings. Clearly the cost is more emotional than fiscal. As we painfully confront our society’s economic and class disparities, we may have to face the prospect that the only thing we efficiently recycle is our guilt.”

* Compiled by JOHN DART, Times staff writer