Your article starter reminds me of a conversation I once had with a big box store team member as they emptied the community recycling bins lined up in front of the main check-out point.

I asked them why they emptied all the smaller bins (cans, bottles, plastic, paper) into the same huge trash bin. Response?

Those bins given guests the satisfaction that they take part in recycling. Basically - a true statement. The contents of the carefully sorted bins are - in deed - an act of recycling.

What guests didn't know is the content of those bins end up in regular trash. Apparently there's no business interested in recycling the recycled. But hey! Whatever we can do to get people in the door to spend money! Right?