[skybrian]

Yes it's pretty bad. What it comes down to is: follow the local rules. If you don't know the local rules or are unsure, err on the side of keeping the recycling clean and throw it out.

(Landfills are quite good at keeping plastic out of the environment. It's the stuff that doesn't make it into the landfill that you have to worry about.)

[NeedMoreTea]

Then keep checking, as local rules keep evolving so that products they used to consider acceptable stop being so. Sometimes new items become acceptable, but our experience is mostly of things being removed from recycling over the years.

It's insane.

[skybrian]

Yes, someone needs to write a really good web app, like those that exist for transit.

[TaylorAlexander]

But also some regulations to keep the permutations down would be super helpful. Mandating that all the things are recyclable would be super helpful.