'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' has become an almost unquestioned mantra of our time. It is claimed that recycling will save the planet. Less energy and fewer resources would be used in manufacture and disposal, and recycled or composted food waste would reduce methane emissions from landfills. More pressing from the government's point of view is the need to meet landfill reduction targets. ... Finally, it is claimed that recycling saves money, therefore increasing economic competitiveness.

It can be questioned, however, whether municipal (household) recycling is worth it.