the limits to garbage

[John Zeger]

Please read Jim Taylor's column in today's (Sun, Nov. 14) Okanagan newspaper. Here Mr. Taylor attacks the notion, one that is held by our city council and planning department, that the potential for growth is endless by using the example of the limits to garbage disposal specifically landfills. Criticizing the naivity of this philosophy, Taylor says "our whole economy is founded on the assumption of endless growth. ... Without endless growth, most people will wail, there is nothing to look forward to." Advocates of the laisse faire approach to growth in Kelowna had better start paying attention to the arguments of people like Jim Taylor and others and wake up to the fact that population growth has limits and start asking themselves what those limits are.

[Rick Shea]

I'm glad to see the various recycling initiatives, including the new "no paper in the landfill" one, which clearly reduce the pressure on the local landfills.

Although there are many responsible citizens out there, there clearly is an element in our society which seems to need to be hit over the head with a hammer before they will accept responsibility for their actions. As examples, I'm talking about the mindless idiots who throw bottles out the window, many to be broken on sidewalks and bicycle paths; and I'm talking about the fast food industry, which generates a huge amount of waste where they could be using reusable dishes (you know, real cups, plates, and cutlery), instead of the paper and cardboard wrappings (which, by the way, are frequently indistinguishable from the so-called food itself). There are, of course, many more examples.

I think that it's time to increase the costs for those who place the most pressure on our landfill, and for those who carelessly dispose of otherwise re-usable and recyclable products, to the point where they will begin looking a the alternatives.

I believe that this strategy is essential regardless of which side of the uncontrolled/controlled growth discussion you support.