My husband, Jerry and I, are not always "paragons of virtue" when we toss our trash into our two kitchen garbage cans. (Blue, recycle; white, landfill.) But like most people we try to abide by society's laws and regulations.

We believe that laws and regulations generally encourage all of us to make decisions that benefit the common good, even though the law-abiding decision may not be the most convenient decision. Do I stop at the stop sign or do I coast through? Do I send my kids to school every day or do I let them skip school when they don't feel like going or when it is inconvenient for me to get them there? The law says we stop at stop signs, that we make sure our kids get to school and the law should say that we as residents of the city must recycle.

What on God's green earth were our mayor, city councilmen and city regulation writers thinking when they decided they should allow us to "option out" of recycling?

When Jerry and I visit other places, and we do a lot of out-of-town visiting, we note much more stringent garbage sorting going on in the homes we visit than we have to do here at home in Lufkin. Sorting when tossing in kitchen garbage cans requires only a quick swish of water occasionally and always only a few extra seconds of time.

It's easy, it's doable and it's important because doing so contributes to saving our environment.

What can we as citizens do? Call the City at 633-0281 and get on the list to keep your recycling bin. Call Mayor Jack Gorden at 633-0299 and express your disappointment with the city's decision to discourage recycling. Go to city hall for the next city council meeting and ask to state your views.

We all need to listen to our consciences and expect our elected representatives and paid administrators to encourage our "better natures."

With regard to our environment, all of us had better wake up now or some day soon there may be no more "roses" left for us to smell.