There are a few issues that prevent states, cities, and towns from levying heavy fines against those who carelessly toss plastic and textiles into the trash can instead of the recycle bin.

Despite volumes of evidence that disposal of these items in landfills and incinerators is killing this planet, there are still those who claim regulation is somehow an infringement on their rights as Americans. What about the rights of our children? Don’t they have the right to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and grow food in non-toxic soil?

There are two sides to every story of course and enforced regulation is never really a good thing without some type of temperance. Most believe that recycling should be pushed by local government but not required. There’s too much room for graft and abuse once you start levying fines to those using curbside trash pick-up. Enforcement would also add additional costs to the service and force communities to raise fees and taxes. No one wants that. Opponents of recycling laws consistently use this potential pitfall as a “resounding reason” to vote against any attempt at reform in this area.

If costs do go up as a result of recycling legislation, one alternative for homeowners is to utilize a junk removal company with an eco-friendly junk removal policy, like Junk King. Folks around the country are already using Junk King to haul away and recycle their couches, appliances, old tires, refrigerators, construction waste and a number of other items.

So, if we can’t make recycling mandatory, how can homeowners be pushed to do it on their own? The best way to encourage voluntary recycling is through education. There are many campaigns running now that promote the benefits of recycling and shed light on the consequences of not doing it. Towns and cities across the country are supplying bins in addition to regular trash barrels so residents can recycle their plastic and paper goods. It is actually mandatory in many of these communities, but enforcement is typically lax and opposition to it is strong. What’s the bottom line? If recycling isn’t voluntary, it doesn’t work. We can’t force people to do it; they need to want to do it.

Whether you use town or city waste removal or hire a company like Junk King, recycling is important. If it wasn’t, there wouldn’t be so many millions of dollars spent every year trying to educate people about it. Plastic doesn’t break down – ever. Textiles contain toxic chemicals and dyes. Paper goods will degrade, but then new paper goods require that more trees get cut down and our woodland areas and rain forests disappear. You may not think it’s a big deal when you throw that soda bottle in the trash can, but what if everyone on earth did that every day? That’s nearly seven billion plastic bottles a day thrown into landfills. Imagine that.