Are we getting our money's worth recycling? (Columbia: houses, neighborhood)

[blktoptrvl]

We seem to be spending a lot of money on it. On trash day in my neighborhood (~400 houses), there are at least 6 different trash trucks roaming the neighborhood all morning.

• A couple picking up trash.
• At least one picking up garden waste.
• Another picking up old furniture and other heavy objects.
• And at least two picking up recyclables (every other week).

Yet I have heard discussions lately that in much of the country, once recyclables are picked up, they all head right to the same land fills that all the other solid waste goes to.

If this is happening in Columbia, then it would seem that all the specialized bins, trucks, and crews are a huge waste of money.

Does anyone know if we are actually recycling in Columbia/Richland, or is it just appearance?

[LexingtonDad]

I don't know how I missed this the first time.

If your recyclables are going into one truck unsorted then there is almost no chance any of it actually gets recycled. The whole process is just for show.

As a friend of mine that is in the business states....one of the greatest waste of natural resources the average person participates in is curbside recycling.