Dear Editor,

A few weeks ago, your paper had an editorial on the need to conserve our natural resources and to recycle. I have been surprised that nothing else has come of that editorial.

Several months ago, a friend and I visited the City Council and requested that a recycling program be instituted in our area. We offered several viable alternatives as to how that recycling could be accomplished including various towns and cities and how their programs were run.

As we see it, not being able to recycle paper, plastics, glass and such is inexcusable. Are we not taught from infancy that we are to be good stewards of the gifts God gives us? If we do not take care of the Earth, there will certainly not be one to hand down to our children and grandchildren.

What can we do, then, even in the absence of a recycling program, to help ease the burden we place on our Earth? I have listed a few suggestions below. With a little time and thought, these are certainly things we can all do to help while we ask and ask again our city and county leaders to give us a real program that will help to alleviate some of the enormous waste piled in our landfills daily.

1. Eliminate all plastic bottles that you possibly can.

2. Eliminate paper and Styrofoam plates and cups. While you’re at it, use real napkins and dishtowels. Nearly all of us have washing machines and dishwashers. At our house, real napkins are used at every meal, and real dishes are, too.

3. Take your own bags to the store.

4. Buy Energy Star appliances when you need to replace them at your house and insulate your house to the best of your ability.

5. Use the new low energy florescent light bulbs.

6. Compost your fruit and vegetable trimmings, coffee grounds, grass clippings and dead leaves.

7. Use natural cleaning products and detergents that do not contain phosphates.

These are just a few suggestions for helping to reduce, re-use and recycle and help keep our Earth viable for our children and grandchildren. I am certain you can think of more. Please do what you can to help.

— Pamela H. Jones, Clanton