[Oddmanout @ Jun 28th 2006 11:53AM]

(To 1, and 2)

All I can say (before I'm hauled away kicking and screaming) is SOYLENT GREEN IS PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(to 3)

Ever seen the Simpsons episode where they cut off garbage pick-up service at the Simpsons home ? That sort of thing is not entirely fictitious. They can cut off your trash service if they find you violating pollution laws (say throwing out paint or motor oil with your trash). My guess is the gov will pressure the waste disposal companies into thinking of a way to enforce it.

Heehee! Be glad you don't live in Japan. It's hillarious that in a land where you can't leave a grocery store with less than 3 plastic bags if you buy so much as a pack of gum, thye are SO strict about trash (probably BECAUSE they generate so much of it). Over here you have to sort your trash into up to five different categories (it varys between neighborhoods).
In some places you have to purchase your trashbags from the city (they are a specific size and are logoed). You are required to wash all PET-1 bottles (you have to WASH your trash!!!), remove the label (as it is a different grade of plastic), and the plastic ring at the neck that the cap was attached to must be cut off (requiring either tin-snips or scissors purpose built for that exact task...availble at your local home center). If you do not comply with these regulations the garbage collectors can issue a warning, if ignored they can/will cut off service...to your entire neighborhood. Thus it is not uncommon for someone in each neighborhood / apartment complex to 'monitor' the trash as it is put out (since there are only one or two spots per block / complex where you can put trash out (and it must be put out early in the morning on the day of pickup...NOT the night before).

When I first moved here, the school I attend gave me what I thought was a free local newspaper. It was in fact a 27 page brochure designed to educate me on the proper way to dispose of trash in this municipality. For example, batteries and light bulbs MUST be taken to a recycling center, or an electronics shop that SELLS batteries and lightbulbs respectively. Etc...etc...etc...

The amazing thing is people over here actually comply with those strictures. But I agree, it will be tough to enforce the cell phone thing in the US.