Media Clipping – July 15, 2004, The Chronicle-Herald Voice of the People

Spin not needed

Re: the July 12 editorial, "Cashing in on trash."

Let us be more realistic and stop promoting annoying eco-bafflegab. The new garbage recycling system costs the HRM taxpayer $23.9 million ($72.5 million minus $48.6 million) more than the old; we do not save $31 million. For this additional tax, the public creates probably 150 to 200 new jobs ($6 million to $8 million), and extends the life of our landfill by 46 to 50 per cent ($18.8 million) and usually, but not always, reduces air pollution (cost and benefits unknown).

If this restatement of Sally Walker's report suggests that I am against recycling efforts, that is not the case. Recycling efforts do not need spin-doctors and their weird reorientation of facts to promote its benefits. The recycling message does not need spin!

The sum of $23.9 million per year represents about 16 cents a day for each citizen of HRM. The benefits of the new program are clear and do not need contrived, tiresome eco-bafflegab for their legitimate promotion. Advocates using this method should be wary of the damaging citizen fatigue and cynicism that follows its use.

Ken Rozee, Hubley

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