The first thing to realize is that trash is only a problem by some guilt-ridden religious argument. Civilization takes its materials from the ground and it can

The first thing to realize is that trash is only a problem by some guilt-ridden religious argument. Civilization takes its materials from the ground and it can return them there quite easily. It was John McCarthy who first convinced me (all my life a recycling crusader) of this.[1] Recycling therefore only makes sense when its energy balance is positive. Aluminum and steel are the only materials for which it is, or ever will be.[2] The process could be greatly simplified by having two bins: "mostly metal" and "everything else". [1] http://www-formal.stanford.edu/jmc/progress/ http://www-formal.stanford.edu/jmc/progress/ [2] And lithium in car batteries. But they're not a municipal issue.