On the bottle bill, April 10’s Maine Compass states: “Absurdly, other people pick through those recycling bins on trash days looking for beverage containers.”

The word “absurdly” disrespectfully denies some people’s reality of desperately eking out their meager survival.

They also pick up recyclables that are tossed out by us who are not likely to voluntarily recycle when they already forgo 5 cents.

They help keep Maine attractive for us and our valuable tourists.

To get rid of the annual $30 million of handling fees noted in the column would get rid of that much job employment for Maine workers and support for local economy.

Roger E. Condit, M.D.

Farmington