This is in response to the July 15 story, “Lewiston to educate residents on trash proposal.” Lewiston City Councilors approved a deal with Waste Zero and agreed to pay $30,000 for a 12-month education and promotion program.

I suggest that the councilors are the ones in need of some education, at no charge. Let residents contact their councilors for a free earful.

Do the residents of Lewiston want to have at least a million dollars (probably much more) taken out of their pockets to buy special trash bags? Who in their right mind would advocate that additional financial burden on their constituents, and then pay $30,000 to persuade people that it is a good idea?

Hopefully, that proposed program, advertised as a savings program, dies a very quick death.

Portland has had a pay-per-bag program for quite a while. It started at $2 per 30-gallon bag and $1 per 15-gallon bag. Recently, the cost increased to $2.70 for large and $1.25 for small. If Lewiston’s proposal is not defeated, residents here will be subjected to increases in the future, just as Portland is now experiencing.

Richard Smith, Lewiston