I try but don't get hung up on it.
We don't waste food, I donate clothing to goodwill, we take plastic bags to be recycled, etc.

It's unfortunate that there isn't much support and education for recycling. The condo that I just recently moved from has recycling bins and it disgusts me what I see in those bins. People just pay no attention at all and throw anything in there that suits them (unless they throw it on the ground, of course). On the same token I see all sorts of things in the trash bins that should be in the recycling bins. It is sad, really.
And don't get me started on plastic bags and styrofoam. :D

The amazing thing is to see what some people throw out for the scavenger..stuff they are just "tired of having". I belong to a group called freecycle.org. Check it out to see if you have a group in your area. It is terrific. If there is no group, maybe you could start one!

Thanks Ditter....we should all be following their example.

I lived in Toledo Ohio and they charge a whole lot more to pick up recycle then the trash and they actually empty the can of recycle in with the trash -showed the office the video and wanted them to recycle my money back to me and they don't do that either. Our entire family recycles. 4 households don't fill a regular trash can in a months time.

Makes me proud to be an Oregonian. We have been trying to do the same thing for years. We have service that picks up yard debris, recyclables, and trash. My neightbor and I share the trash because neither of us was using the whole container each week. We only pay a out $25 per month for all of it to be removed so it is a great deal. We also have deposits on nearly every drink container.

I try to recycle everything I can, either at home or at our "green church". However, our city does not allow us to recycle glass and many other items. Wish we could. I remember years ago in France, the garbage on the curb was practically nil. They were onto something a long time ago.

My DH worked at the regional landfill for 11 years & most of the recycle they dictate to do is a joke. For one, the milk jugs are smashed into a huge bail & taken to the landfill. They say it is recycled, but is not. Same with most all other stuff. No matter how you separate things, it still all goes to the landfill. Also, they do have a gas line set up, but it just burns off out of a pipe into the air at the landfill. None of it is being piped for use anywhere. It is a great big waste all the way around.

Same here at our landfill. We had a recycling place in town for plastics. It was all smashed up and sent directly to the landfill. I think the only recycled items that does get reused are tin and tires. Before going to the trouble of separating your trash, find out where it is going. DH and I watched a dump truck filled with every type of merchandise you could think of being dumped at the state's big landfill. The driver says he is hired by dept. stores to haul off returns that can't be resold. There is liability for the stores to sell or donate the items and their insurance won't allow it. He said it still makes him shake his head to see the items being dumped but he can't sell, give, or keep any of it, it's against his contract and he will be prosecuted.

Am proud of Delaware, our little state has mandated that garbage collectors pick up both trash and recycling for everyone, in separate containers provided. It is alarming to read how much garbage is stacking up - both on land and in our wonderful oceans. I hope some visionaries continue to develop unique systems like Sweden to manage the situation in a more productive way - there are so many answers to the situation, and we need to employ them ALL!