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Opinion
Stephen L. Carter

The Daily Grind of Recycling

Warm feelings about saving the planet have given way to the drudgery of sorting and rinsing and nagging from the government.
Line them up.

Line them up.

Photographer: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The other day, I had an epiphany: If recycling were not required by law, I probably wouldn’t bother.

Okay, I’m a horrible person. But bear with me. In the wake of a blizzard, I was rolling the huge town-provided recycling bin to the curb for pickup. Downhill. Through the snow. On a steep driveway, imprecisely plowed. The walk was treacherous. I slipped once or twice.