The latest state report shows that Gloucester County reported a recycling rate of 28 percent for 2011. Mathews County is part of a regional system that reported a 32.3 percent rate; no breakdown came for Mathews alone.

This is better perhaps than the old days when everything went into the trash, and when all the trash was either thrown into the woods, burned in a barrel, or tossed onto the county dump.

There are efforts, at least, to keep the volume down.

So, why is it not down more?

Because our government still makes it too easy to use and toss. People are lazy. Even with recycling containers in the next room, they would rather throw their aluminum soda can or plastic water bottle in the trash can next to their chair.

There was a time that bottlers paid for returns of their containers. A time that most shopping bags were paper and degradable, not plastic and forever. A time that people valued thrift and reuse.

While it is relatively easy now, if people so desire, to recy...