Talkin' Trash

About 10 days ago I spoke in my blog about creating a national recycling clearinghouse. I was thinking today that, while the clearinghouse would reduce some trash and save some resources, there is more we could and should do in this area. Living out in the boonies, I don't have trash service. I take a trip to the dump about once a month to dispose of household trash. I do my best to recycle most everything that I can, but it still piles up. Every time I go I see people getting rid of things that can either be repaired or at least recycled, and they DO have an area for recycling. There is an employee working at the dump site, directing traffic and watching that nobody picks anything up to take back home (stupid rule). I believe that people should be REQUIRED to separate their recyclables. Then add one more employee at each site to inspect the loads when they are first weighed in. It wouldn't take long, just a minute or two, and it would seriously reduce the amount of trash going into the landfill. For pick-up service, have the employee check the trash and reject it if it is not separated. Gee, they would have to go back to actually getting out of their trucks. Then again, there use to be TWO workers per truck, and should be again.... wow, this would help the employment situation too!
I do NOT believe that we should have to pay a deposit when we purchase merchandise that is in recyclable containers, feeling that it is just another means for the state to get money for nothing as less than 50% voluntarily return the containers so the unclaimed deposits become state money. RIP-OFF