The only time I have ever seen recycling work properly was back in Silicon Valley for our yard debris collection. This material never left the county. It was used to generate compost and mulch that ended up available for local residents. Some of the compost was used by the city and county for landscape projects, eliminating the need for purchases.
The items in thrown in the recycling bin usually end up at the same landfill as the other trash you throw out. It’s been that way for decades. It turns out the plastic products recycling programs weren’t as profitable for cities as promised since no one is taking our trash anymore.
Many cities quietly stopped separating the trash and plastics years ago, but still require people to sort their trash and deposit it in separate containers, and charge a recycling fee. The containers then are all dumped into a garbage truck and head to the same landfill.
his plastic water bottle ended up at a landfill...
Next thing you know we’ll find out the water in that bottle didn’t come from a pure artesian well.