Although Americans have become enthusiastic recyclers in recent years, many people still have trouble telling the difference between what’s recyclable and what isn’t. In fact, approximately 25 percent of the material that U.S. citizens toss in their recycling bins can’t actually be recycled. This video takes a look at the possible causes of this trend and provides viewers with some simple waste-sorting advice: “when in doubt, throw it out.”

Questions:

1. How does single-stream recycling contribute to the high rate of recycling contamination in the U.S.?
2. Do you think more communities should require residents to pre-sort their recyclables rather than rely on single-stream systems? Why or why not?