How about 100 lashes instead?

Recycling is almost a religion in Seattle. The devotion gets more complicated, with mandatory enforcement on homeowners who are already recycling at 56 percent of total waste.

Seattle's new enforcement plan for garbage and recycling means trash collectors are now lifting the lid on garbage cans and dumpsters to see if homeowners and businesses are putting too much paper, cardboard, cans or other recyclables out with the regular garbage. The city has set a limit that says no more than 10 percent of the total garbage should contain recyclable materials.

Businesses in violation receive two warnings, followed by a $50 fine. Homeowners will not be fined but will have garbage left behind a week. So far, since the start of the new program, about 10 homeowners a day are coming home to garbage that has not been picked up.

This gives common sense a bad name. Give people an incentive or a discount if they do it right. Don't leave smelly, week-old trash lying around.

In fairness, trash collectors are not snooping through individual garbage bags. They are eyeballing contents of garbage cans.

Recycling is a good thing. The city has a lofty goal of boosting its overall recycling rate from below 40 percent to 60 percent by 2010. Everyone should try to help meet a goal that will save the city money.

Businesses recycling at a rate of 37.3 percent have to do better.

But Seattle has long been a recycling leader. People do not need to be punished, only prodded or nagged occasionally.

A good citizen who is a champ at recycling beer cans and bottles gets a little crazy with the Sunday newspaper and puts it in the trash. Next thing he knows he is the scourge of his neighborhood, because his trash has been left behind. He becomes the guy who invited the rats, raccoons and errant crows to dine on his street.

This is recycling run amok. Mayor Greg Nickels launched this program, the City Council went along and all of them should have the good sense to can the punitive part of it.