[mstromb]

It seems that recycling is a flat rate even if you get two cans. Jumping from the smallest to largest compost can is ~$5. Trash is the really expensive one: http://www.seattle.gov/util/MyServices/Garbage/HouseResident...

There's been a big push around composting lately, to the point where there will be fines for having too many compostables in the trash. People were up in arms over this, as it meant that the waste collection people would be rooting around in your trash to determine if it was complaint, though apparently they can't open opaque bags to check so it's pretty much a non-issue.

[icelancer]

This is already happening in my neighborhood/county at least. We separate our stuff but we've seen other cans get ticketed for contaminated receptacles. (I think it's mostly just warnings now, unless you are a habitual offender.)

Still, this is all a bunch of crap. This is a perfect thing to centralize and no amount of shaming/fining the population is going to actually solve the problem in the long run without causing major headaches and graft for the waste management companies (oh, the stories I could tell about them).