In New York City, they separate cans, bottles, plastic and paper.

Each resident must purchase four specially-marked trash cans. The city spot-checked and sent tickets ($50, maybe $150 now?) Mike Lazarus says, “This could work well for us.”

For you, yes; but the expense and time required of the citizens is perfectly enormous.

Is there a real savings in emissions? Yes, recycling takes less energy than creating afresh. But fuel for four trash trucks, instead of one? The gasoline for the spot-checkers? The energy to provide for the army of accountants and the tickets?

Bill Fletcher

Natchez resident