In my area, Kankakee County, developmentally disabled have been used. The Kankakee Country Training Center took over the program on the promise that it would make money and help the client workers. Conditions can be terrible. Cold temperatures in winter are only the beginning. Smells are overwhelming.
Workers reach into a foot high trough of garbage, plucking out loose cans and bottles.
Between loads they use snow shovels to heft trash that has fallen on the floor back onto the conveyer. The unceasing river of trash is a maelstrom of soaked paper, cans, rotten meat, broken glass, tampons, kitty litter and more. A drizzle of trash particles permeates the air. The press was kept out of the facilities when the program began. Pay is close to minimum wage.