By “single source” do you mean “single stream”? With “single stream recycling” meaning consumers put all recyclable products into a single bin, vs. multi stream

By “single source” do you mean “single stream”? With “single stream recycling” meaning consumers put all recyclable products into a single bin, vs. multi stream, where consumers are expected to separate recycled goods into multiple categories. If so, then yeah, multi stream is generally considered more efficient. Obviously some central sorting/filtering is still needed, but much less. As for recycling in general, it’s considered a decent win for plenty of materials. Making cans from recycled aluminum takes only a tiny fraction of the energy of producing new aluminum cans, paper recycling does reduce the need for forestry, most recycling reduces the need for landfills, etc. It’s mostly plastic recycling that is useless, and just there to make ppl feel better about their plastic consumption.