Lately I've been getting a lot of emails about the volume of trash on the Eastern Prom, its potential causes, and what we should do about it. Read on to see one of the most recent emails on this topic (edited for anonymity) and my response. 

I know: they’re huge. And they’re plastic. And they don’t exactly complement any particular style of home décor except, perhaps, “LEGO Chic.” Plus, they take up a lot of space, and they can be difficult to situate if you don’t have a spacious driveway or more than ten feet separating your house from the one next door. 

But they’re going to be so good for the environment. And for the workers who’ve been hefting hundreds of bins each day for the past six years. And once you get over their size, color, and unnatural appearance, you may find that they have many benefits for you, too.