EDITORIAL:Don’t resist recycling bins

Who likes change?

Our passion for entertaining diversions to put some spark into our routines is nearly insatiable. Every day it seems we’re introduced to a new toy. We have 500 channels, MP3 players, DVDs, satellite radio, YouTube, PlayStation 3, blackberries and the list goes on.

But the truth is, we love the routine. It’s comforting to know those shortcuts to work, what’s going to be expected of you at the job and what time your favorite show comes on so you can set the TiVo to record it.

Even when we know that change will improve us we still resist it. It’s simple — who among us doesn’t fear the unknown?

So it doesn’t surprise us that many residents are complaining about the city’s new recycling program. Especially when the new program involves more work for you and less for the waste disposal company.

You pay your taxes, so leave that work to the garbage man, right?

Wrong. It’s pretty clear that our environment is in serious despair and that we all must now pitch in to help mitigate the damage. In the past you were able to just plop all of your trash into one can and leave it for the garbage man to sort through it for recyclables. Now you’re being asked to separate the plastic from the paper and the yard waste so the recyclables aren’t tainted. Why? Because it will increase the amount of material that can be recycled and it will reduce the amount of trash in the landfills. It’s simple.

Huntington Beach is among the last of Southern California cities to adopt a program like this. It’s worked elsewhere for years, so it’s long past time to catch up.

Is sorting your garbage and finding space for the large new cans an extra pain in the neck? Sure. But it’s not that much of a hassle. When you’re done with that bottle of water, just put it in the plastics-only can. The same goes for your other trash.

It’s not that big of a deal. Just think how much you’ll be doing to help the environment. That goal far outweighs the inconvenience.