Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[joyapple]

Dear friends,

(The study showed much more of Seattle�s trash stream could be recycled than originally had been thought. They city council chose a target of 60 percent. Voluntary curb-side recycling was given a chance, and today 55 percent of eligible city residences participate, with the city council and mayor solidly behind the program.)

1.re: Voluntary curb-side recycling was given a chance

If curb-side recycling is "voluntary", then people don't have to be given a chance to do curb-side recycling. Right?

2.re: 55 percent of eligible city residences participate
Why does the author say that only eligible residences are able to participate in curb-side recycling? I think every residence can participate in curb-side recycling. Am I Right?

[CP]

1.re: Voluntary curb-side recycling was given a chance
--It means that the city gave people the chance / opportunity to separate their refuse to be recycled.

2.re: 55 percent of eligible city residences participate
--It means that, of all the persons who might have separated their trash to recycle it, 55 percent did. Some residents might live in places where all their trash goes into large dumpsters, so they could not separate it if they wanted to, and therefore were not eligible.
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[joyapple]

(The study showed much more of Seattle�s trash stream could be recycled than originally had been thought. They city council chose a target of 60 percent. Voluntary curb-side recycling was given a chance, and today 55 percent of eligible city residences participate, with the city council and mayor solidly behind the program.)

In addition,
1)What does "trash stream" mean?
2)Does "60 percent" refer to "60 percent of total trash can be recycled"?

[CP]

1)What does "trash stream" mean?
--All the rubbish produced and in need of hauling away.

2)Does "60 percent" refer to "60 percent of total trash can be recycled"?
--It's not exactly clear from the way it's written whether it means they chose 60% of the trash stream as the target or 60% of the eligible residents. The next sentence clearly means 55% of the eligible residents voluntarily recycled, but the earlier sentence seems to refer to 60% of all the trash as being recyclable, and they are not exactly the same, since there could be a sizable fraction of the residents who are not eligible, and their trash is part of the stream no matter what.

The writer could have been more careful.
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb