"...but perhaps the government isn't the best agent to be tasked with this responsibility." That's the statement that nails it. In fact, I can't think of any case where government is the best agent. Given a chance, most people will opt for less waste and peer pressure will do the rest. I'm in an area where I see so much impractical and costly approach to recycling that I have grown to be very cynical about the benefits of what is in place now at, I must add, excessive cost to taxpayers.