It was understandable when, right after the Hurricane, when so much of the city was either unoccupied or struggling to be livable, recycling was not a top priority. With an extreme labor shortage and a focus on debris disposal, the city had other problems to tackle first. As soon as the real rebuilding process started, though, I was confused as to why the three R's were not a bigger part of it.
Semmes Walmsley, a member of the steering committee for NOLA Recycles 2010, agrees with me.
"I think recycling falls hand in hand with our coastal erosion and levee protection issues," Walmsley said a few weeks ago, prior to the mayoral election that his committee was focused on so intently. "Just tying it in with environmental issues would be a good way to get it addressed and make it a high-priority issue.
"Also, quality of life," he continued. "People are coming in from out of town who want to live here and want to live a life similar to the way they lived before, just with a little more culture. Well, the roads are terrible, and there's a crime issue,and there's no recycling? Come on! I understand the roads; that takes time. I understand the crime; that takes time. But recycling doesn't seem like it should be that difficult to institute," he said, echoing the thoughts of many New Orleanians, both new and old.
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