> That doesn't mean that recycling has "backfired".
> This problem is routinely being solved by mostly boring but useful heavy machinery.
So, yes, it did. You are making the same point as in the article: as we focused the consumer attention on "reduce, reuse and recycle" (which we actually did), focus is lost from other problems (overproduction, microplastics in consumer waste) and solutions (awareness, modernizing the recycling plants).
> This problem is routinely being solved by mostly boring but useful heavy machinery.
So, yes, it did. You are making the same point as in the article: as we focused the consumer attention on "reduce, reuse and recycle" (which we actually did), focus is lost from other problems (overproduction, microplastics in consumer waste) and solutions (awareness, modernizing the recycling plants).