If it were merely a waste of time, it wouldn't be so bad. But recycling does active harm in some cases. When people switch to reusable bags, they generally do

If it were merely a waste of time, it wouldn't be so bad. But recycling does active harm in some cases. When people switch to reusable bags, they generally don't disinfect them between uses, and nasty bacteria can grow (think raw meat). There was that poor woman who was killed by a reusable metal straw. Fell on it with it in her mouth. With a classic plastic straw, this would have been at most an unpleasant cut. In our lunchroom at work, a well-meaning cleaning woman fishes through the "regular" trash looking for things to recycle. Great, no? Well, except that the trash is filled with all sorts of bacteria from half-eaten food, used tissues, etc. She then, without washing her hands, continues to move around the room, touching the tables and chairs that people are eating off of. Hello coronavirus.