Recycling

We’re told, by the Recyclers, that cardboard with tape should be sent to landfill, as should soiled, or printed plastics. So should broken glass, or jars, which haven’t been washed.
These recyclers seem to be very picky.
To my mind, they’re too picky.
Bits of broken glass, bottle tops and plastic films all interfere with their machinery and items, which haven’t been handwashed, can contaminate those intended to be sold on (i.e. unprofitable).
Soiled cardboard and plastics must’nt be burned, because they produce Carbon Dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas.
Plastic, put in landfill, persists for centuries, which for some reason is a bad thing (why not broken glass, bricks rocks, sand, clay, land etc.!?).
Contaminated cardboard and other organics rot, producing Methane, which is a worse Greenhouse Gas (but does eventually oxidise to the not so bad Carbon Dioxide!).
To my mind, it would seem better to separate wastes into inerts (glass, metals, thermoset plastics etc.)and Combustibles.
Inerts can go into landfill (later generations may be able to mine them as raw materials).
Combustibles could be burned to produce heat to produce electricity (Perhaps operate freezing facilities to trap and store any CO2).
Processes need to be re-thought.

Tags: combustibles, environment, inerts, recycle, recycling, sustainability