I read the article, “New London council to vote on pay-per-bag trash program later this month,” (June 2). I do not feel that the mayor’s and Public Works Director Brian Sear’s recommendations are practical.

First of all, using the existing green garbage barrels as recycling containers makes no sense. They are not designed for that. 

In addition, using yellow plastic bags for garbage collection is impractical. They could break or be broken into, including by foraging animals.

The city is looking for greater recycling, apparently there is some abuse going on of people putting recyclable materials in the green barrels. Why not offer residents some form of financial credit for recycling a designated minimal amount of recyclable materials? Surely folks would recycle more and they wouldn’t have to be punished by a new, more impractical recycling system. If there were a greater flow of recyclable materials from residents following my proposal, doesn't that surplus of recyclables represent some kind of surplus of wealth that produces more revenue for the city?

If businesses don’t pull their weight with regards to their greater disposal of waste, why not impose a surcharge for their greater flow of waste?

Does any of this make sense?

Martin Fuller

New London