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A couple of years ago, a business that I was acquainted with started the big office paper recycling program (which continues to this day). It made everyone feel good that they were, in some way, 'helping the environment'.

One day while taking an air-break near the loading dock (While some people take smoke break, I take air breaks to help stay awake at work), the recycling truck pulls up and started to load the discarded and sorted office paper.

I asked him what they do with it, and he replied that he takes it to the same place the other trucks do - the landfill, where it is mixed with 'normal' trash with large spike-wheeled front end loaders.

Curious, I asked, then why does your company provide recycling services if you are not recycling stuff? His answer: "We make more money on 'recycling' service that regular trash service."

Curious, I asked, then why does your company provide recycling services if you are not recycling stuff? His answer: "We make more money on 'recycling' service that regular trash service."

YEP .. it's all about the money

Many Many years ago .. my county built a trash to steam plant ... over the years it continues to still lose money and we the taxpayers are stuck paying MILLIONS for the stupid thing

We are provided a separate, large container for all recyclables: paper, plastic, glass all goes into the same bin. I wash out the food cans, jars, etc. so as to not attract local critters. As I am using the water to wash out the cans, I always wonder which has more of an effect on the environment: the little bit of metal or glass that I am contributing to the recycling effort, or the little bit of water used for washing it out that would otherwise not be used.

The trash company says I don't have to wash out the individual items, but that I should keep the bin itself clean. Brilliant. So, which takes more water: rinsing out individual cans and bottles, or scrubbing out a large trash bin with ripened goo and encrusted gook?

Actually, tonight we're just saying to hell with it and will burn the Christmas paper, boxes, etc. in the patio fire pit. It won't all fit into the trash bins, and the trash company now won't take anything that will not fit into the provided bins. I'm not leaving the trash stacked around MY house!

I had a very similar experience while working as a contractor at Microsoft.
Most of the Birkenstockers there dutifully sort their trash, including in the cafeterias. It was hilarious to see these folks scrape and sort, and pontificate over any who shirked their civic duty, only to see the garbageman dump it all into the same hold of their trucks.

A couple of years ago, a business that I was acquainted with started the big office paper recycling program ....

I once worked for a company that had a huge recycle bin, upon which there was a large sign that read "WHITE TRASH ONLY."