Cities Must Save The World

It is the cities, you know, that must save the world
It is the cities, this time
If recycling is to work, it is the cities who must do it
This time
It isn't the federal government that picks up your trash
Most of the times, it's not
It's the cities, it's the cities
It's they who pick up your rot
So, save the world by recycling?
Save your breath if you think not
It's the cities who must save the world
They are all that we've got

 Recycling. If it is going to work, it will be the cities that must make it work. It is they that collect the waste. Yet, despite that, as the nation passes election day for many of its municipalities, was the topic even near the top as an issue?

  City elections might focus on whether high-density housing should be allowed,  and on whether the fire and police departments should get more money. Recycling? It doesn't even pop up, at least not much.

  China once was a major importer of waste used for recycling. Then, it came out with what is called its "National Sword" policy, which banned the import of much of the waste. Back in the states, recyclers were left without a market for much of their product. Lacking that income, they upped their prices to the cities.

   Supply and demand, you know.

   How should cities deal with it? Should they abandon private companies -- no longer granting franchises to them? Companies have to make money, but when the cities own the utilities, they don't.

   The trip-up to that is that cities didn't turn a profit, they would have to charge their residents to make up the difference -- and most of them would howl and scream if the price of their garbage pick-up came close to doubling.

   Some cities have pared back what they recycle: No more styrofoam, among other things. 

   So, if there are answers to these problems, who must provide them? The cities. If there are to be solutions, it is the cities who must find them.