Since I got a flyer in the mail from the city a few weeks ago, I have been making a more concerted effort to pay attention to the trash and recycle as much as possible.
One big question I had was in regard to plastic. The flyer said only type #1 and #2 bottles could be recycled, but I kept running across other plastic containers that were clearly marked with the #1 and #2 recycling symbol.
It turns up, they shouldn't be recycled, and the NYC website explains why:
Recycling Symbol
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycwasteless/html/recycling/recycle_what.shtml#symbol
CAN I RECYCLE ANY OTHER PLASTICS BESIDES #1 & #2 BOTTLES & JUGS?
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycwasteless/html/waste_faq/waste_faq.shtml#plastics
There's also an interesting explanation as to why there aren't recycling bins on street corners (something I've often wondered as I looked for places to throw away soda bottles):
WHY AREN'T THERE RECYCLING CONTAINERS ON NEW YORK CITY STREET CORNERS?
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycwasteless/html/waste_faq/waste_faq.shtml#stbasket