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PDF version(UNEDITED) You can't recycle if you don't know how": Recycling bins in Ogden are Blue and trash bins are Green. Contamination rate falls when 'researchers' check the right cans. Recycling goes to Recycle America in West Jordan. Total contamination is 10-15%. Education is good, don't misinform us.
Jon Medrano
North Ogden
Correction of Author's Assumption
As one of the 'researchers' I would like to inform Mr. Medrano that we did in fact check the blue canisters and not the green ones. That was a misprint. I would ask that he please check into such matters, especially when regarding such a basic fact, before questioning the credibilty of findings. Also, the result of the study was taken from a sample, as clearly noted in the paper. The reported results from the study were accurate, and based upon statistical inference, conclusions were drawn about the population. It is possible, that other studies may find different results. The problems created within statistical analysis due to sampling error have been addressed a plethora of times by individuals much more qualified to understand and explain the problems than either myself or Mr. Medrano.
Also, simply because a contamination rate is 10-15%, that does not mean the Mr. Medrano can draw any sort of conclusions about the level of education throughout the city. The study clearly noted that as people felt they had more knowledge, they tended to recycle more accurately. The converse of that statement cannot be assumed true without deeper analysis, which was clearly not done.
In essence, I do apologize for the misprint within the paper concerning the color of the cans inspected. That was indeed a mistake. However, that does not justify the attack on the credibility of or on the individuals conducting the study.