I was sad and discouraged to hear the remarks by Delmont Councilman Dennis Urban about requiring residents to pay for access to a recycling program instead of keeping it part of the trash collection service (“Murrysville, Export, Delmont prepare as trash collection contracts expire in September,” April 13, TribLIVE). Urban is either unaware of or does not care about the many benefits of community recycling programs.
Recycling reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators, improving air quality. It conserves energy and natural resources like timber, water and minerals, and prevents pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials. It increases economic security by using a domestic source of materials and supports American manufacturing, helping to create jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries.
Urban seems to think recycling is not necessary. I hope he reconsiders and changes his mind in light of all the obvious benefits that recycling brings to the community and to our country.
Marye Phillips
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