An additional note of possible interest: The gentleman in the photo I took for this story is depicted at the moment when he'd just finished perusing the recyclables bin (blue and gray), and has begun perusing the contents of the trash bin (black) for that apartment complex, which some might consider "dumpster diving", with a risk of identity theft involved.

This just came up in the Monta Loma neighborhood, too. Perhaps because the same rummagers are sweeping through our neighborhood.

I asked a former city councilman about it (sorry, haven't gotten permission to use his name here) and discovered that, a couple of years ago when he enquired with Foothill Disposal (now called Recology?) about it, they told him they took a net loss on recycling. He said that If they only recycled aluminum cans they might break even, but the other recyclables are not profitable.

Interesting. After a bit more research into Recology, a private, wholly employee-owned corporation, I found that it seems there are no proceeds from what they do being funneled back into the cities that have contracted them. It changes the whole scheme of things, in my point of view. But when I see a rummager collecting, one can see that it will go to personal use, for their family and so forth. If the trend continues, however, I can't help but wonder how long it might be before you start seeing competing rummagers in the same regions, and what drama *that* might entail?