Q:   Why do we separate trash and recyclables when both are dumped into the same truck?

A:   Harter’s, the company that collects trash and recyclables in Lanark, uses trucks that have two compartments, one for trash and the other for recyclables.  These compartments are easy to see when you look at the back of the truck.  This design is more efficient than having separate trucks collecting trash and recyclables. 

When the mechanical arm lifts and dumps your trash or recycling bin into the truck, the bin’s contents are directed into the correct compartment by a hinged lid that exposes the correct bin while covering the opening to the other one.  This 3 minute video from a collection truck manufacturer shows how it works:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAbFLt1yBGM