Staggering amounts of valuable metals are ending up in the trash

Recycling more of the copper, aluminum, and other minerals in our old electronics could reduce the need for mining

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Because recycling plants are far and few between with many requiring you to be a resident to use the facilities. Many also charge for each piece brought in. They are also only open on weekdays when people have to work.

Recycling electronics and metals is good on paper, but there is very much a service problem.
- This is a big problem with all sorts of disposal methods. It's the reason I see so much stuff thrown out when it should be recycled or dumped in bushes or forests. If you want someone to do the right thing then you can't make them drive across a damn city and/or charge them a disposal fee when they attempt to get rid of it. It sucks seeing mattresses dumped on the side of the road or on quiet hiking trails, but I know the reason they're there is because getting rid of one properly is like $50-$75 which is goddamn absurd.