Dear Humans,

On garbage day, one of my neighbors puts out their recycling can even though it’s not a recycling week. And then another neighbor does because someone else did. And soon there’s a whole bunch of recycling cans out that will never be picked up.

First I laugh. Then I look at my trash/recycling calendar. And, even though I can see that this is most definitely not a recycling day, I think, “How can all of these people be wrong?” and I put my recycling can out just in case.

But a lot of people are wrong all the time. And though putting my recycling can out on the wrong day isn’t that big a deal, blindly following my neighbors can turn out to be a big deal.

Sincerely,

Mr. Heimbuck