A leader from the traditionally eco-skeptic Economist admits that recycling is “mostly worthwhile,” and proposes three steps to encourage the practice. Relying on mechanisms technological, political, and economic, the magazine recommends
- a single stream from the consumer, with automated conveyor belts at the processing facility to separate items;
- selling recycled waste to emerging markets; and
- monetary rewards to consumers based on how much they recycle.
I haven’t yet read the magazine’s current Technology Quarterly, which features recycling and other environmental issues; I’m interested in how the writers handle the question of streaming recyclables into the third world.