I work in the recycling business. I'm a sorter in a recycling plant. I'm one of those folks putting on those gloves, standing next to a conveyor and actually sorting the stuff with both hands. And from a humble sorter's point of view, I think there are so many things going wrong in this business.
For starters, we find way too much trash on our conveyors. Either people don't know how to sort their recycling from their trash properly, or they just don't care. Green truck or gray truck, as long as the stuff leaves with a truck, what's the difference?! I also hear on the TV news that too many recyclable stuff ends up on dumping grounds.
There are too many packages that are difficult or impossible to recycle. Just think about those Pringle's chips packages, wax cardboard sides and tin bottoms. We don't have time to split them apart.
I think it could be possible to improve our recycling rates big time, it would only take more political will from our governments. As for the corporations, those who put the merchandise and the packaging in our markets, it looks to me like another classic case of privatizing the profits and socializing the losses. They just cash in the profits and let the governments, the tax payers and the environment pay for the waste.
As for the recycling business itself, I think this is where the noble principles of preserving our environment go on a frontal collision with the harsh reality of cold blooded and globalized capitalism. Why should they sort their material here when the could have it sorted by some overseas cheap labor?! I work in a plant where too much stuff passes on way too fast, sorted by not enough sorters on machines that are not maintained and cleaned up properly. I see poorly sorted, contaminated material being baled up, piled up in containers and sent who knows where. I hear on the news some local buyers saying they would take all of our material if it was properly sorted. And I also hear about some shady brokers buying up our material and shipping it overseas.
I think my job is important, but it could be soooo much better.