Say no to new trash taxes in Pennsylvania!

Go to www.pawasteindustries.org now and click on "Take Action" to e-mail Governor Rendell and your elected officials.

He calls it a fee, but it's a tax and it will hit each and every one of us.

And this is the second tax increase on trash disposal in just 18 months.

This time, the government wants us to pay another $73.5 million for the exact same services we receive today. The math is simple:

14.7 million tons of trash generated each year in PA multiplied by $5 more per ton equals $73.5 million more each year.

You can also call 717-737-2340.

It's a small tax increase...shouldn't hurt you that bad. It will probably be good for the schools...why not support it?

Our trash were ever picked up on time. I cannot tell you how many times I've put out the trash, only to never have it picked up, and then I have to haul it back into the garage. I put the trash bin out Thursday (which is SUPPOSED to be our trash day), and of course it absolutely POURED that day. It was still sitting outside all day yesterday, and when I finally angrily put it back in the garage it really stunk.

Yes, please tax us more for NONEXISTENT trash pickup!

(I don't normally mind paying taxes; I'm no Rethug. I'd just like to have my trash picked up more often than every 2-3 weeks! And don't get me started on recycling!)

Taxes for waste collection are mounting because packaging is not regulated. Europe has strict controls on packaging and companies have cut down on it.

The best example of excess packaging is any bottle containing 100 pills: aspirin, vitamins, anything you can think of. The entire contents can be poured into a bottle meant for 50 pills.

Would anybody buy a bootle of pickes that was half empty? I didn't think so.

The unnecessarily large bottles are not only deceptive but they weigh more than smaller bottles. The unnecessarily large bottles add to the cost of carting them off to landfills. As gas goes up the cost of transporting trash to landfills will only increase. The solution is to address packaging and demand less of it.

for a while there seemed to be better thinking about packaging, and then all the extra plastic roared right back. Children's toys are a good example, they are packed in a way that makes you think they were the crown jewels and damn near impossible to open. Weird.

PWIA represents private-sector waste haulers, recyclers, and landfill operators in Pennsylvania and is affiliated with the National Solid Waste Management Association.

I don't think they are the best indication of what is good for Pennsylvania's environment, economy, or citizens.

sorry, it's a small increase, i can deal with it if it's going to help the education system.