To the editor:

An article appeared in the Feb. 9 J-W I still have difficulty believing. The article “Failure to recycle lands mom in court,” describes how a woman and four other residents of Newton have been fined for violating the city’s mandatory recycling law. Frivolous lawsuits have nothing on these cases.

I’ve been recycling for more than 20 years, but I recycle because I enjoy it and think that hopefully recycling helps keep prices of some items slightly lower. I definitely don’t think anyone should be penalized for not recycling. Fortunately, Harvey County is the only Kansas county that requires its residents to recycle. I wouldn’t want anyone looking at my trash and yelling, “Hey there’s an unrecycled jar! Criminals! Fine them!” I hope the Newton residents are not forced to pay their fines. Recycling should be voluntary, not mandatory.

Chas Gilmore,

Lawrence