Dear editor,
The officials who designed a Comox Valley rural garbage pickup scheme are giving no incentive to people to behave responsibly, because they are charging a flat rate, instead of charging people by the pound, at curbside.
This plan is encouraging people to basically dump everything, and not separate cans, bottles, paper, cardboard, and waste that could have been composted.
There is no practical way to inspect the contents of green garbage bags, etc., for such recyclables.
The only environmentally responsible, and cost-effective system, is to charge people by the pound.
As the system currently exists, we are encouraged to do the composting, separate cans and bottles, and do the work necessary. You can't expect BFI Canada to take on this difficult and time-consuming job.
In my case, I need to make only about four trips a year to the Cumberland depot, which is very cost-effective, compared to a $150 charge that doesn't distinguish between responsible citizens, and free riders.
This is a backward step, totally out of keeping with modern environmental ideas to force people to be responsible.
F. Fern,
Merville