Sure, there's a social cost to filling up landfills, but there's also a social cost to recycling, in terms of the enormous amount of people's time it soaks up. I think people matter more than garbage does, and I see kids wasting time worrying about garbage, when they could be doing something useful. At The Reason Foundation itself, analysts say they see shades of gray, not the black and white picture conjured by Tierney and Hershkowitz. Our analysis shows that in some cities, recycling offers a cost-competitive option, and in others it doesn't. But cost isn't the only issue.
Most folks participate because that's what they prefer to do.
Communities need to decide if it's right for them. They need to educate their citizens and get commitments. I also think you have to understand the important role the commercial sector plays. More than half the recycling in the U.S. is coming from industry, which was doing it long before curbside recycling began. The biggest recycling debate that rages today is whether it is worth the cost.