Container deposit for aluminum works pretty well. Steel is relatively easy to extract from trash with magnets. Separating methane producing non-toxic waste might be meaningful too. But having people wash/transport/sort plastics which can't be recycled is bad, and shouldn't be incentivised. Making corporations pay for non-recyclable plastic is a market mechanism which fiscal conservatives should applaud.
Casting this as a goody Lefty vs selfish conservative argument is pointless.
> Making corporations pay for non-recyclable plastic is a market mechanism which fiscal conservatives should applaud.
Citation needed. That sounds like socialist insanity to me. So sure, I applaud it. I just don't see these "conservatives" you are taking about. Even at the level of local politics this tends to be a partisan issue. And you sure sound like a democrat to me...
Conservatives always decry some group getting something for free, which is actually paid for by the taxpayer. Distributing non-recyclable plastic and forcing rate payers to pay to dump it, collect it from rivers and drains etc is it be such case.
A market mechanism uses the power of the market to encourage correct behavior through market forces, instead of penalties, taxes on all, special schemes to give cash to specific state controlled recycling projects, etc. A market mechanism allows free enterprise solutions, whereas 'social insanity' creates inflexible regulatory processes.
Casting this as a goody Lefty vs selfish conservative argument is pointless.