It's good to see curbside recycling again is a topic before Tiffin City Council.
The service was tried previously, about a generation ago. It didn't last. The experience did reveal that not all residents adapted to separating recyclables. Some also balked at paying for the service; after all, isn't there value in recyclables?
Now, more might buy into the idea there is a cost associated with hauling away their discards - whether destined for burial in a landfill or remanufacture into useful products.
There are benefits to recycling, too, such as extended landfill life. Also, resources can be spared by redirecting materials to be redeveloped.
It's good to note, too our two universities are giving emphasis to recycling.
Yet while most residents, whether students or workers or retirees, know the three r's- reduce, reuse and recycle - more need to realize why the trio is in that order.
Reducing use of resources not only conserves those resources, but others, as well - the time, effort and energy needed to produce and transport them.
Reuse avoids consumption of energy, labor and equipment needed to cycle used materials into other useful forms.
Recycling, thus, should be the last resort before discarding items in the trash.
Curbside recycling not only would extend that habit to more households, but could compel more people to consciously reduce their consumption and reuse as much as possible.
Our goal should be to someday have to find a way to reuse or recycle trash receptacles.
