I agree that the location is difficult to use for recycling, it was designed to collect garbage, smoosh it and haul it away. What about routing the garage directly to short mountain and make the Glenwood transfer station just for recycling? The pit could be filled with dumpsters for sorting different materials, so the public could still enjoy the act of throwing sh*t. 
Exploring options for banned materials, (nursery pots is my complaint) could help reduce the flow of garbage. Your statement about American is "oh so true" and should be the by-line for the waste management people...