Who says there's never any good news anymore? Here's at least a scrap of it: North Carolinians are producing less trash these days.

Yes, that's right: According to a recent report from state officials, the amount of refuse that residents of our state are sending to their landfills - including the one out near N.C. 5 - has declined to the lowest level in two decades.

Part of the reason may be the economic recession. After all, when people have less money to spend, they buy less stuff and therefore presumably throw away less. But we prefer to think that at least a part of it is a general consciousness-raising in matters of recycling.

Whatever the reason - again, it's good news. Here's to even fewer and smaller garbage bags.