With all the different types of plastic and how easy it apparently is to contaminate a batch I feel like sorting has to basically be perfect at the collection facility. At that point can't we just put everything in the trash and assume it will be sorted? Expecting individuals to do this perfectly across the entire population seems like it would never work.

Separating donate from trash clearly makes sense. And maybe compost from trash? Maybe? But is there ever a "clean" batch of recycling? Does a truck ever get through a full route without running in to that one household that tossed their produce bags in the recycle or didn't completely rinse the yogurt tub? Is that tub even recyclable? Isn't recycling just the subset of trash that doesn't have to be landfilled or incinerated?

I wonder about the exact same things.

Adding to that, is a matter of cost. Lawmakers apparently place very little value on my time. Sorting trash costs time. Taking it to a recycling center costs time (and requires transportation, which I don't have). Disposing of paper/cardboard means I have to walk ~500 meters to a special rubbish bin with an opening the size of a letter box. Which means I have to spend time ripping up cardboard boxes. It's ridiculous and I feel like it's a giant waste of my time.

I can buy crap online for cheap, with free shipping, without ever leaving the house. But disposing of the packaging is a hassle. Trash collection seems stuck in the middle ages, but with more rules which seem pretty pointless.