A recent article in SF Gate focused on Berkeley’s garbage problems. Because of Berkeley’s commitment to recycling, the revenue it receives from garbage collection has dropped precitously. Less garbage means more job and service cuts.
If people everywhere are recycling and composting, and if cities like Washington, D.C. are charging bag taxes, what is the cost? How are time, money, and jobs affected? Berkeley’s recylers take us to a much larger issue. They return us to opportunity cost and free lunches.

The Economic Life
Any decision we make has an opportunity cost. Any time we decide to do one thing, we sacrifice the next desirable alternative.