At first, their argument was that citizens would not bother to recycle. Anti-Recyclers imply that environmentalists and government officials have imposed recycling on an unwilling populace, conjuring up an image of Big Brother lurking behind every recycling bin. In fact, overwhelming public support, not government edicts, is the major reason why state and local recycling initiatives are flourishing. Concentrating on landfill space misses the point. As just one example, recycling at current levels saves enough energy to supply 9 million U.S. households.
Landfills can be major sources of water and air pollution.
One out of five toxic waste sites in the Superfund program is a former municipal landfill that has contaminated our water or threatens to do so. Landfills also release substances to the air, including smog-producing chemicals and methane, a highly potent contributor to global warming. Landfill space is a commodity, priced according to supply and demand. The major growth in recycling has occurred where landfills are expensive or recyclable materials command higher than average prices. Curbside recycling in these areas is a rational response to economic costs and opportunities.