[Josh in PA]

RECYCLE OR PAY THE PRICE BUDDY! Government FORCING citizens to do something they don't want to.

[John Jorsett]

And if you don't subscribe to a newspaper or buy things in recyclable containers, you'd better start.

[John Jorsett]

Costa said failing to recycle costs the city money. It's paid $11 a ton for glass, cans and plastics and $30 a ton for newspaper, Costa said. Statewide, the average cost to take municipal trash to a landfill is about $57 per ton, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Conveniently leaving out the costs of collecting and processing the recyclables, which is on the order of $60 a ton. An astute reporter would have either asked about that or found it through research.

[RS]

""I run a very tight program. I'm an ex-Marine and I run this like it was Parris Island," Hejmanowski said."

Here's one little wannabe Hitler that we should get rid of REAL quick....

[Dog Gone]

Remind me never to move to Pennsylvania.

[G.Mason]

If I bought it, it belongs to me.

You want it? You pay me for it.

Case closed.

[The Libertarian Dude]

Government forces people to do things all the time. It's one reason we have such a bloated, corrupt system, and so many Democrats.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Mandatory recycling is slavery (and government make-work).

You know when recycling makes economic sense when private entities are willing to pay you enough for your recyclables to make it worth your trouble.

[rivercat]

Trust me, it's not that bad once you get used to it. I lived in Germany for three years (Army) and was forced to recycle. Now it feels wierd when I have to use a regular garbage can at a place where there isn't a special place to put recyclables.

It's easy and it actually does help. It saves money too.

[raybbr]

Wow! I thought I was the only one who believed that forced recycling was a scam forcing me to do the work of the sanitation department.

[Piquaboy]

Move to the country and burn your trash. Do your part to contribute to global warming as I do.

[buccaneer81]

Another "Pittsburgh is Hell" Ping!

[holyscroller]

First it was sold as everybody doing their part to "save the environment." Now the volunteer days are over. Isn't that the way all do-gooder government programs work? Comply because you're a good person. Oh, you don't want to be a good person? Then we will make you comply!

[blackdog]

How comical! In most municipalities with curbside recycling they keep the aluminum cans, but other than that it just all goes in the landfill. It's just not economically practical other than the grant or matching monies to run the operation. The result is what we have now.

I asked my garbage pickup driver and also followed several of their "recyclables" trucks. I followed them right to the county landfill. They had county prison inmates taking the aluminum and all the rest went right into the landfill. It gives the soccer moms something to do though.

[EGPWS]

Government FORCING citizens to do something they don't want to.

Costa said failing to recycle costs the city money. It's paid $11 a ton for glass, cans and plastics and $30 a ton for newspaper, Costa said. Statewide, the average cost to take municipal trash to a landfill is about $57 per ton, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

And for the money to boot!

[randog]

"If I find a recyclable item in your bag, I leave you with a warning subject to a $600 (maximum) fine," he said. Likewise, if he finds trash in recycling.

"I run a very tight program. I'm an ex-Marine and I run this like it was Parris Island," Hejmanowski said.

Oh, it would be soooooooo fun to mess with this guy. I'd be calling their office 10, 15 times a day asking how my trash should be "categorized":

"Hello? Yeah, I got this ad in the mail and it's on cardstock and I don't know if it's recyclable...should I throw it away or put it in with the newsprint?"

"Yeah, is a Wendy's hamburger wrapper recyclable, and is it metal or paper?"

"Yo, me again--do you guys want used paper towels in with newspapers?"

[Professional Engineer]

The beatings will continue until morale improves!

[sergeantdave]

If recycling paid, there would be private companies going door to door asking for your cans, bottles and newspapers.

The only items I recycle are copper and sterling. There's a recycler who actually pays me money for it.

[freedumb2003]

I lived in Pgh for a year or so.

When I was there it was fine. Now it has reverted to the sad little place where little guys in caps and buicks cut in front of you on left turns and stop when they get on the freeway onramp.

[Willie Green]

I'm an ex-Marine and I run this like it was Parris Island," Hejmanowski said.

Isn't there some kind of unwritten law that forbids former marines from referring to themselves as EX-marines?

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.
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