The editorial cartoon Aug. 11, “Summiting Mt. Landfill,” says it all. It would behoove the residents of Lewiston, especially those in apartment buildings who do not recycle, to pay attention. It may be easy to say, “Why bother,” but it could very well affect what a person pays in taxes or higher rent.

If people recycle, it would save money and help keep the world greener. Money is earned by recycling. It is earned because what is recycled is sold. That offsets the cost of picking up garbage. What is not recycled and can be burned is sent to MMWAC in Auburn. The incinerator there turns waste to energy (electricity). Lewiston, in turn, picks up the ashes in Auburn and brings them to the city dump. The enterprise helps to keep a lot of garbage out of the landfill.

I encourage people to recycle, and discuss recycling with neighbors and children. Teachers in schools could discuss recycling with their students for just a few minutes to make students aware that recycling is the way to go.

At present there are about 7 billion people on Earth using up resources.

What will happen when there are 14 billion?

People should support the recycling effort. They need to get informed as to what is recyclable. Items such as cardboard, paper, clear glass, certain plastics and metal cans all qualify.

Robert A. Soucy, Lewiston