Unanimous. That flag should burn, or go underground.

A reader named Larry Kaplan wrote:

Dear Ms. Burman, According to flag etiquette, a flag should be burned or buried, but not thrown in the trash, so you are right on there. As for the black bin vs the blue one---cloth is not considered recyclable under L.A.’s trash collection program.

My neighbor Rochelle Winters wrote:

I think you are being used as a shill! I know that the flag code recommends that old flags be burned in a special ceremony. It might even be against the law to trash a flag.

Then there's the Cub Scouts. David Coffin of Cub Scout Pack 769 knows what to do:

Actually Jenny, it's better to torch than toss. When done correctly it's a very formal memorial service. If you still have the flag our cub scout pack will give it a closure.

Well, I had already dumped a coconut half full of juice on top of the flag -- miraculously, it hadn't spilled -- and more garbage, but after receiving David's email I went out and dragged the smelly shredded thing out of the garbage. It may be the first real flag I have ever touched. I don't care much about flags. But this one has moved indoors, for a couple of days at least.

Meanwhile, Martin Cox, paddle boat activist and Chicken Corner's waterfowl correspondent/paparazzo had a suggestion. He says:

I had a flag bin experience too, but it was on a ship, I still have the flag. We could have an exhibition of binned flags.

Capital idea! Says Chicken Corner. If it hasn't burned first.