Recycling. If it is going to work, it will be the cities that must make it work. It is they that collect the waste. Yet, despite that, as the nation passes election day for many of its municipalities, was the topic even near the top as an issue?
City elections might focus on whether high-density housing should be allowed, and on whether the fire and police departments should get more money. Recycling? It doesn't even pop up, at least not much.
China once was a major importer of waste used for recycling. Then, it came out with what is called its "National Sword" policy, which banned the import of much of the waste. Back in the states, recyclers were left without a market for much of their product. Lacking that income, they upped their prices to the cities.
Supply and demand, you know.
How should cities deal with it? Should they abandon private companies -- no longer granting franchises to them? Companies have to make money, but when the cities own the utilities, they don't.
The trip-up to that is that cities didn't turn a profit, they would have to charge their residents to make up the difference -- and most of them would howl and scream if the price of their garbage pick-up came close to doubling.
Some cities have pared back what they recycle: No more styrofoam, among other things.
So, if there are answers to these problems, who must provide them? The cities. If there are to be solutions, it is the cities who must find them.
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