I shudder to think of how long the list for mandatory will become.

Land of the free, home of the brave? Free and brave people are selfish and mean.

"Although composting initially costs more than land-filling, over the long-term, the benefits will outweigh the costs. "We can reduce a large source of landfill-generated greenhouse gases, extend the life of our landfill, and generate a valuable resource for the community in the form of premium soil and mulch," writes Shanon Boase. "What's more, this industry generates additional jobs.""

Who believes they have pencils sharp enough to figure the cost-benefit ratio? But of course, it's not their money.

fancypants,
Would you prefer Heil Hitler?

Clinamen --

My only hope is that like the movie, Brazil, the bureaucracy will become so overburdened that it will be impossible to track any one person. In the meantime, we should all maintain a legal defense fund in case city staff gets it in their heads to make our lives miserable.

I can't imagine the amount of compost the city of NY would create nor where that quantity of stuff would go. Will people be required to take back finished compost and then be forced to garden with it? Just wondering.

To answer your question Nolo look to the actions of Pol Pot...
That seems to be the sustainable model some of these folks aspire to follow.

Nolo,
What I am concerned about is that with our service being cut, every other week for garbage, that some people will put "whatever" into the yard debris container.
Too many diapers just one example, put into a plastic bag, who will be checking everything that could be put into that yard debris? So in the final analysis, what would be coming back as finished compost?

As far as gardening, some parts of the city are so congested with ghetto housing, no room for a garden. But this compost could be sold and used in growing food in our area period.

I can see mandatory in other arenas. The smart meters for example being put in. I heard that our energy use could be monitored and appliances eventually in the system, so that for example one would not be allowed to use appliances when one wanted to, might have to wait until 3:00 am to be able to use a washing machine, or the following week if an overload.

I am sure that many will be fine with all forms of monitoring all for the good of the planet...including having to live in tiny spaces and looking with disdain towards others who are "not in the prescribed setting."

All the card business, what we check out and read in the library can be noted and what kind of food we buy or activities put on cards.

It may be that a younger generation growing up with cards, and other forms of technology may not be bothered, I find it intrusive.

I could list other future scenarios of mandatory, too scary as to where this can lead. Will check out that movie Brazil.