We are diehard recyclers. Plastics in general are a nightmare with regard to longevity in the environment. Some forms are recycled, other not at all. Why ?? Recyclable water and gatorade bottles are most often tossed as trash. Styrofoam in most forms is rejected from recycling programs. That and the extensive list of material rejected from programs and the low level of participation and high level of laziness/"I will not pay to recycle" astounds me. We need to throw a deposit on all materials to get more cooperation from the ignorant, and demand recyclable products and packaging from manufacturers.
The saving grace may be that for many decades, we are accumulating a great source for future generations to develop the capability to effectively mine our landfills. What a great concentration of base elements, compounds and building materials! --Still, what a shame.
That may be the case where you live.
In our area they started w a no sort program and participation is and has been good from the start.
Initially reports were glowing... lately not so much.
We have had reports of no or lo demand causing recycleable collection to turn around and landfill their collections.
We have been told no longer a market for recycled paper.
I'm happy to comply w curbside pick ups but resent the imposition of deposits which only end up with the uncollected deposits being claimed by the govt and a smaller share left for the companies involved.
Maybe a surcharge on unnecessary packaging would reduce what companies choose to enclose their products in from the start.
I have filed complaints w NY DEC re retailers that sell deposit beverages but refuse to accept the empties back. I was told by them to find someplace else to take them... they weren't set up to handle them. This isn't a mom & pop it's a big box store and they are still doing the same thing. Apparently the requirement to take back deposit containers you have sold is not a strong enough one to enforce. Who gets stuck... the consumer... and the govt and co share the profits.
IMHO..,, Ban all deposits and encourage recycling of those materials that make sense and there is a demand.
Provide incentives for recycled materials if necessary and use the fees collected from "excess" double & triple packaging to fund the incentives.
We also need to prioritize... straws are not what is filling up our landfills and if you think they are why not require restaurants to collect and recycle them?