Retailers should be involved in recycling packaging

Retailers should be involved in recycling packaging

I read Fran Alexander's column Tuesday morning and agree Fayetteville would be going down the wrong path with a single-stream recycling system. What most people are missing in this equation is the source of our recycle problem.

Ozark Natural Foods had the right idea when they provided recycle bins on the property for customers to bring items back from whence they were purchased.

Why should large retailers not be made responsible for the refuse they create? Most of them have huge parking lots that could easily provide a recycle area convenient to customers.

Then there are the instances where retailers make poor decisions in the product packaging equation. Such was the case when Walmart decided last year to change the packaging of their Market Side pizzas from cardboard to all plastic, plastic that cannot be recycled. I've written letters and provided negative feedback on the surveys they invite us to complete, but to no avail. I refuse to purchase items I cannot recycle.

If more people reduced, reused and recycled perhaps Fayetteville would not be looking at the problem they currently face.

T.A. Sampson

Canehill

Arkansas lawmakers should keep religion to themselves

I read in the Feb. 14 newspaper that the Arkansas House of Representatives has voted to make abortion clinics subject to immediate shutdown for health and safety violations. Since they are apparently concerned for the health of Arkansans, I assume this regulation will be extended to all health clinics, doctors' offices and

hospitals.

I am constantly amazed that Arkansas legislators spend their time and energy, as well as our tax dollars (because this regulation is clearly discriminatory and will be litigated, along with their other abortion restrictions) attempting to enforce their personal restrictive ethical and moral values. The United States Constitution clearly provides a separation of church and state, and well as a freedom of religion. Do these legislators need a course on civics?

Arkansas is a state of major beauty and natural resources, yet ranks 49th in most economic categories. There are major issues that need to be addressed, yet these legislators chose to focus on narrow issues based on their personal religious values. The Republican Party advocates for limited government, yet they want to intrude on personal lives and personal decisions. Such hypocrisy. These legislators were elected to work for the betterment of Arkansans, not to advocate for religious values. Studies show the Protestant religion is dying. Perhaps the intolerance and bigotry demonstrated by "persons of faith" tells the underlying reason.

I will give due credit to legislators who extended the Affordable Care Act to Arkansans. The most effective way to reduce abortions is to make contraception available and affordable to all women.

Suzanne Childers

Holiday Island

Commentary on 02/22/2017

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