Beginning April 26, Ocean City will no longer having a recycling program.  Instead, all trash will be transported to Pennsylvania where it will then be incinerated to be converted into energy. 

Not only is recycling no longer an option, but additional environmental degradation will be caused due to the burning of materials, which could and probably will release harmful chemicals into the atmosphere.

The decision to discontinue the program was voted on unanimously by the Mayor and City Council.

Properties had originally been required to purchase recycling containers, and the properties will be reimbursed at a fraction of the original price.  The amount that each property receives back will be determined based on how old each container is.  Even if a container was just purchased this month, only 80 percent will be reimbursed. 

Why did the city even allow these properties to purchase the containers when they could see what was going to happen?  Then again, it was another way for the city to make more money.

According to “The Baltimore Sun,” the discontinuation of the program will save the city about one million dollars for the 2010-11 fiscal year.  I understand that times are tough and that the city needs this money, but isn’t there any other area that could have been cut back?

Why couldn’t the recycling program be continued while the rest of the mainstream trash is transferred to the Pennsylvania incinerator? 

Ultimately, the environment is incredibly important and Ocean City has had a recycling program for 23 years.  This is a town that should value its tradition and maintain it in order to send the right message to the visiting families.  No matter what the reason, saying “we don’t recycle” is not going to make people think very highly of you.

In all fairness, people who still want to recycle can cart their recyclables to Worcester County drop-off sites.  However, this is not a step that the average tourist, or even resident, is going to take due to the extra effort that will be required. 

The city is also using the trash for good, by using to create energy that is cleaner than that created by fossil fuels.  Also, trash is a renewable resource, which is a much better alternative to nonrenewable fossil fuels.

Nonetheless, the recycling program was still more valuable and should have never been cut.

Caitie Beth Shauck can be reached for comment at [email protected]