To the editor:
It is my understanding that the City Council will vote tonight on using bags as opposed to stickers for trash collection.
This is not a good idea. Other communities have engaged in single stream recycling (much easier), provided larger containers for recycling (I use three of the small ones, plus newspaper and cardboard recycling). I recycle everything I can and have since recycling began.
The move to bags will, in effect, increase the cost for everyone, increase inappropriate dumping (Gloucester is already a bit trashy) and do nothing to promote recycling. In addition, animals will rip the bags apart creating a nightmare for all.
Surely, there are far better solutions and the city really should be thinking of how to promote recycling rather than to increase trash pickup fees.
I generally put out one barrel of trash as I use 13 gallon kitchen bags. They would then be bagged again (more challenge for decomposition), so this would be two bags of trash for me — or double the cost.
I'm all for more recycling and less trash, but this won't do and will just increase fees and create a mess.
Diane Lapine
Tufts Lane, Gloucester
