June 16, 2009
Opinion
My Turn, Your Turn: Illegal to toss plastic bottles
WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - Do you know that in October it will be illegal to throw away plastic bottles or aluminum cans in North Carolina?
Now, I know the "green" movement is necessary and popular, and certainly the legislators that passed this bill had good intentions - but is it practical?
I don't think you can legislate that people become environmentally conscious. What if our state leaders decide they want us to be more health conscious? Will they pass a law making it illegal to be overweight?
While there probably is no perfect way to get people to recycle, there is better way. In fact, nearly a dozen states have used it for decades. They passed container deposit legislation. They use the carrot instead of the stick, and this helps get everyone involved in the process.
A friend of mine, who grew up and went to college in Michigan, told me that all his dorm mates used to collect cans and bottles to pay for fast-food meals in those cash-strapped days. They were helping the environment because of an incentive, not out of fear breaking the law - and that's the way this issue should be handled.
Video available at http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=10541766&nav=menu157_2
