That came to mind reading it too. I'm sympathetic that not all the recycling is making it into reused materials, but I do think the behavior change in people was a success on the whole. Eco-friendly materials continue to be a focal point for many consumers, though not all of them.

And there's probably a lesson in there about how long it takes to effectively shift consumer behavior with the right campaign. I feel like it took about 2 decades to get everyone on board with recycle bins and general eco-friendliness, both using carrot and stick methods.