We Vasiceks keep a recycling bin underneath our kitchen sink. When the bin overflows, I or Marylu sort the recyclables into bags and carry them into the hatch of our minivan. When I am out and about, I deposit said recyclables at a convenient collection site.

During my last drop off, the giant recycling bins were filled to the hilt. I nimbly crammed my contribution into the massive collection. “Superb!” I told myself, “The good people of Kokomo are recycling!”

I have long been a fan of recycling (my specialty is recycling old jokes!). Back when I was a young teen (around 1971 or so), I wrote a letter to the editor of our community paper. I suggested we have separate garbage cans for differing types of waste. I never thought I would see the day when “sorting” became a reality.

When I was a lad, trash bags were unknown; we might wrap some messy trash in newspapers or use paper grocery bags as liners. We would dump the containers into the large oil drums in the alleyway and frequently rinse out our home containers. Glad those days are gone!

We have modernized trash collection, and recycling is an important part of that modernization. Yet the concept of recycling is nothing new. During World War II, Americans were urged to recycle cooking grease. Local butchers would collect the grease on behalf of Uncle Sam, who would use it as an ingredient for ammunition. Rubber, scrap metal and other recyclables were precious commodities at that time – and sometimes the government mandated what you had to recycle. You were allowed four auto tires and one spare tire per vehicle – no more. If you had an extra tire, you had to sell it to the government. Even though I was born in 1956, I know this information in an “almost” firsthand way – I listen to old-time radio programs.

Twenty years ago, I associated recycling with the Boy Scouts; they collected newspapers for that purpose. The City of Kokomo initiated a roadside recycling program, and our home was in the original test area. I recall reading that when recycling pickup was weekly, about 50 percent of the neighborhood participated; when it went to every other week, the rate dropped in half to 25 percent. Why? The clutter of accumulating two weeks of recyclables, the confusion of keeping the weeks straight, and the traumatic consequences of missing a pickup (waiting two more weeks) eventually killed the program. When Kokomo abandoned roadside pickup and replaced it with collection centers, I was overjoyed! Yet some might ask, “Is recycling worth it?”

According to Wikipedia, “There is some debate over whether recycling is economically efficient. Municipalities often see fiscal benefits from implementing recycling programs, largely due to the reduced landfill costs. A study conducted by the Technical University of Denmark found that in 83 percent of cases, recycling is the most efficient method to dispose of household waste …

“… Economic analysis of recycling includes what economists call externalities … costs and benefits that accrue to individuals outside of private transactions. Examples include: decreased air pollution and greenhouse gases from incineration, reduced hazardous waste leaching from landfills, reduced energy consumption, and reduced waste and resource consumption, which leads to a reduction in environmentally damaging mining and timber activity.”

Why waste trees or mine more ore than is necessary? Recycling is a sensible way to cut down waste and pollution, yet it takes little effort on our part. I hope you will take note of the nearest recycling center and begin to accumulate recyclables. You can toss them in your trunk or hatch like I do, and drop them off when you are in the neighborhood. What takes effort at first soon becomes second nature. Consider participating.

• Ed Vasicek is pastor of Highland Park Church and a weekly contributor to the Kokomo Tribune.