I recently wrote this forum to express my view in favor of the recreational bond issue (ice rink, etc.) and though it didn’t pass, I’m pleased that the democratic process worked as it was designed to.

I wish I could say the same for the residential waste/recycling contract the Peachtree City Council is planning to shove down our throats.

This is an unabashed example of government running roughshod over citizens, regardless of their circumstances. It’s autocratic, dictatorial, peremptory, arbitrary, and borderline totalitarian.

The council’s reasons for this change are compelling on the surface, and one is even logical, except for the overall concept of mandating a garbage contract upon us laced with the threat of fines for non-compliance.

I see no valid reason for not allowing a provision for NO garbage pickup, especially since not many Peachtree City citizens could or would want to qualify for such.

If the city is accurate in their forecast of cheaper rates because of one huge contract, then no sane resident would opt for their own, more expensive, pickup by another company and certainly not enough people would opt out to threaten the hoped for projected success of the overall contract.

Here’s why I object to this particular heavy-handed example of government. First of all, it’s a monopoly, and don’t be fooled by lower rates except for early in the project. After the dust has settled, the rates will go up and will end up higher than if competition were allowed, as it should be in a free enterprise system.

Secondly, why would homeowners who have garbage pickup now and decide to opt out of this Orwellian collaboration begin to throw their garbage into their yards or public areas?

This possibility would be addressed by a proposed ordinance change making it a “public nuisance” to “not retain regular service for the disposal of garbage,” allegedly leading to illegal dumping and increased litter.

Thirdly, for more than two years I have successfully and comfortably had NO garbage pickup. It’s really pretty simple. I compost everything that will decay (I eat no meat at home, so that’s not an issue in the compost pile) and I recycle everything else possible. My only trash is 98 percent packaging and junk mail.

Once every two months or so I make a trip to the county landfill, (when I’m going that way anyway) taking my recyclables and trash, and that’s that. It’s easy and efficient for both me and the environment.

I don’t want my own choice of garbage company. I just want the ability to do it myself and not be charged for it and fined for not complying.

The quality of self-reliance is the stuff of our ancestors. It’s what this country was built upon. I hope I will be given this option; otherwise I’ll see you in court, and we’ll discover once again if the ideals of the Founding Fathers really work.

Chuck Fulton

Peachtree City, Ga.

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