Trashing the Law

The recent arrests of 14 suspects for defrauding the state’s recycling redemption system illustrates the absurdity of a program that is a de facto beverage tax (Oct. 23). How many of us actually redeem the 2.5 to 5 cents for our bottles and cans? We don’t object to this insidious little number because it’s so small, and we don’t redeem it because it’s not worth our effort. This, presumably, is by design. Is it doing what it purports; i.e., to encourage recycling? Not for the vast majority of Californians. The fraud simply illustrates what a joke the California redemption value is.

Jonathan Stewart

Newbury Park