The majority of the residential group, if questioned, will confirm that they are anxious to support recycling initiatives, that they do so because they are concerned for the environment, and that they do themselves actively separate their waste for recycling. If what they avow is true, then it is somewhat surprising that source-separation schemes do not enjoy a much higher success rate. The reason appears to be that privately many householders find source separation inconvenient, occasionally untidy, and properly the responsibility of the municipality rather than themselves.
A.G. MANSER, Practical Handbook of Processing and Recycling Municipal Waste
Any realistic recycling scheme will require some form of prior separation, since any attempt to pick through significant quantities of crude waste for recoverables is both impossible and even potentially hazardous. So the waste producers must be encouraged to keep separate those items destined for recycling, and this in turn leads to separate collections or special vehicles, both expensive activities.
A.G. MANSER, Practical Handbook of Processing and Recycling Municipal Waste
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