I, like many New Yorkers living in the city, must deal with commuting via mass transit (i.e. MTA subway and/or bus). I usually have a morning ritual while coming to work. I order my orange juice and bagel with cream cheese before going underground into the train station. Needless to say, the trains run whenever they feel like it so i usually have plenty of time to finish my breakfast before the train comes roaring down the path. I roll up my waste and toss my plastic bottle in the trash can as I jump on the F.

Today was a little different because I forgot my iPod…which leaves me to ride with just my thoughts…and that “basketball coach” who asks for change or a smile. So as I tossed another plastic bottle into the bin, I sit back and enjoyed the sounds of my morning commute. Of course there is nothing to enjoy so it hits me. Where does my bottle go? There aren’t any recycling bins in the station…

Actually there aren’t any in ANY station. So if the rider can’t sort out recyclable materials before disposing of them, are they just wasted? Well after some digging around I found that the MTA has a program in place…they sort out recyclables after collecting trash.

Now here is where I vent…what if these plastic bottles or newspapers or anything useful becomes soiled with coffee, food or whatever evils lie in wait in that trash can? Then these reusable items aren’t so reusable anymore. I might as well have just put my orange juice bottle in the landfill myself and save you the trouble.

MTA, you keep raising the fare so why don’t I get my monies worth? Put a freaking recycle bin in the stations so my kids have a little less to clean up after we pass this planet to them.