http://www.kqed.org/.stream/anon/radio/quest/2009/08/2009-08-03-quest.mp3
Once they leave your driveway, your discarded bottles, newspapers, and other recyclables become part of a multi-billion dollar global commodities market. Last month's phone bill, for example, might be sent to China to be reincarnated as next month's iPhone packaging. But when those markets collapse -- as they did last winter -- neighborhood recycling programs are hit hard.