If given a choice would you separate your recyclables by type into individual bins, or place them all together in one co

I was raised by a family who recycles everything they can and we always seperated them and so I just continued seperating things. It's easy to do and doesn't take hardly any time at all.

DrJG

Using more than one bin to do recycling efficiently is only sensible provided the workers at the other end don't mix them up - but it is worth everyone doing a little bit, especially when you have children around, since they grown imbibing all you do and your values and ethics.

Separating items has got to be more cost effective in the long run, and it doesn't take a whole lot of effort on the residential side, but... The trouble I find at home is dedicating the space to all the different bins that need to be stored. I presently have 4 bins(paper/cardboard; aluminum; glass; #1/#2 plastics). Once you start separating the different types of plastic, the different colored glass, etc., you'll end up losing your garage to a dozen different bins, while your car sits out at the curb! Single Stream may not be as cost efficient, but I feel that it is more productive and inviting, and will remain that way for awhile. While effort is admirable for a few, simpler is better for all.

---If you wish to improve, you must be content with being thought foolish and stupid.

While single stream recycling might not be the most efficient, it has been found to be the easiest for the consumer. More people are more likely to recycle if there is less effort involved. By allowing people to recycle without requiring the "sorting" into separate bins, they will recycle more tonnage over the course of time. The more tonnage that we recycle the less tonnage that is covered up in our landfills.

This isn’t usually something that is up to the consumer – it has more the do with what the collector can handle. Some areas have the recourses to handle ‘single-stream’ recycling, where nothing has to be separated. But other, often more rural collection areas, don’t yet have this capability.