Letter to the editor:

Making recycling work

Dear Yodeler,

I am inspired by your article on recycling in Berkeley. The article does not make the whole situation clear.

• (1) Houses get small bins, picked up by the Ecology Center. The center drops off what to put in the bins, and how to deal with items. For instance, corrugated cardboard should be tied in bundles.
• (2) Apartments get big bins, marked "mixed paper", "cardboard/brown bags", and "bottles & cans". If the apartment dwellers don't sort properly, nothing is picked up. No instructions are given to apartment dwellers.

I live in a co-op, made up of 2 apartment buildings. We sort everything properly, and put out the right bins on the right days. Nearby apartments have messes - bad sorting. I have been going out in the early mornings and sorting recycling in apartments nearby. NO INSTRUCTIONS are given to apartment dwellers.

Somehow the city needs to educate its apartment dwellers. What can be done? Who will do something?

Julia Craig