I think I will recycle my blue box.
The rationale is that, under the status quo, I see it as a waste of time.
The original recycling initiative was promoted on two fronts:
( i ) reduce waste in landfills
( ii ) recycle materials to lessen "raw" resource extraction
However, via review of Metro Vancouver reports, metro landfills are noticing reduced volumes and hence reduced revenue.
This implies success on the recycling front. However, landfill costs continue to increase with annual increases in tipping fees.
Our household is currently allotted two garbage cans. We barely fill even one garbage can on collection day, but in the past, we were quite diligent in the Blue Box recycling program.
One would assume the reduced impact on landfills would be a win-win for all concerned, but my own accounting sees no impact on the bottom line.
The "reducto ad-absurdum" reality is the more we recycle, the higher the landfill costs.
The current incentive, as implied by Metro Vancouver actions, is to simply toss all one's garbage into the garbage can, retire the recycling program so tipping fees are increased and, thus, metro landfills achieve the targetted revenue.
Metro Vancouver cannot have it both ways.
