BETWEEN THE LINES: RECYCLE: IT ONLY TAKES ONE PERSON TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

As I stuffed another sack of trash into the plastic can Sunday evening, I realized I've accumulated too much trash.

Monday is Trash Day on my street. Every Sunday evening I drag the trash can to the end of my driveway for pickup.

But this week was different. I had more trash than usual, even though I've been trying to recycle.

I'll admit it's hard to recycle. It takes more effort and persistence than just throwing everything into one receptacle. But I'm trying.

When I looked at apartments in Florida, I chose my complex for two important reasons: there were recycling bins nearby and a screened porch for my cats.

Although I haven't been recycling every bit of trash possible, I have made some concerted efforts to save the planet.

I routinely recycle newspapers, which accounts for a large amount of the trash in my house.

While living in Florida, I even recycled the hundreds of extra newspapers printed at the office where I worked. Other than aluminum cans, the Baptist building didn't participate in any recycling program. So I made it my job to recycle the extra papers.

My friend Bill had a hard time understanding why I chose to recycle when the office didn't compensate me in any way. I explained as simply as I could: I am inclined to believe that one person can make a difference so I'm trying to do my part by recycling whenever possible.

My guess is that the recycling stopped when I left, although I'm not certain.

And for the past seven years or so, I have faithfully recycled aluminum cans.

When living in Connecticut, it paid to recycle. All stores charged a nickel deposit for aluminum cans, bottles and plastic liters. When you returned the cans to the store, you received your deposit money.

The same plan worked in Columbia where I attended college. Recycling was encouraged in the city, and it was fairly convenient, with bins located around town.

I even had a college roommate who recycled nearly everything she used. We set up boxes for papers, tin food cans and aluminum in an extra closet. We even reused yogurt cartons and plastic containers.

Karen was an education major who spent one semester developing lesson plans and classroom projects so the extra cardboard and plastic containers came in handy. She was resourceful to say the least.

Even though I'm not as committed to recycling as Karen was, I try.

I'd like to think that my recycling efforts will mean that my children -- when I have them -- won't have to live on a trash heap.

Needless to say, I was appalled to learn that Scott City's recycling program never did what residents expected -- recycled the materials they had separated.

Although I give the city credit for implementing such a program, I am disappointed that residents were misled. And not many people seem bothered by this fact.

And it upset me to realize that the recycling vendors aren't offering much help to smaller communities. Nobody wants to take away the recycling bins unless they are full and it's a cost-effective venture.

I guess the lesson to be learned is that profit takes precedence over preservation of the planet.

~Laura Johnston is a copy editor for the Southeast Missourian.