Stop the Garbage Madness!

Ok so we Americans are almost disgusting in the way that we overconsume absolutely everything. Pretty soon our towns and cities are going to look like something out of Slumdog Millionaire if we don't act. Ok so that's a little much but it truly is a serious problem. Something that we can all do to end the cycle of madness is to reduce how much waste we throw away and put on the curb come garbage night.

I have already determined that most food containers can be recycled. All glass, plastic, tin. The food itself, for the most part, gets composted or goes down the disposal. The paper and plastic packaging all gets recycled in their respective areas. Boxes. I am a master bundler btw. But believe it or not, even with all this effort, there still is a decent amount of garbage.

Although our town has a mandatory recycling program that fines non-compliant residents but guess what? Some people still do 0% recycling and are never caught and the rest do the minimum, aka tin cans and soda bottles. The answer?

My idea is a bit radical but it solves the problem. Ok there are some logistics to work out but I plan on proposing this to my local government.

Require all residents to pay for their garbage OR cap the allowable amount of garbage that can be collected per week. Right now, garbage is collected several times per week and is paid through our property taxes. If residents will have to pay additional dumping fees, per person, on a monthly basis, you bet your eco friendly dryer balls that they will fall in line. Drastic?? Revolutionary? A little, but I think necessary to enforce municipal recycling programs. Money talks and people will make adjustments if it affects their wallets to their detriment.

I would love to hear about an area in our country that imposes this type of program. Anyone? Bueller?