I’m assuming that most newspaper and virtually all metal that goes in the recycling bin actually gets recycled. Probably large card board boxes and office waste consisting almost entirely of one type of paper have a decent chance at a second life. I’m mainly wondering about some plastic bottles and mixed paper waste (like the stuff that goes directly from my mailbox into a recycling bin).
Also it would be interesting to know what happens to batteries, light bulbs, electronics, motor oil and other stuff that is supposed to be treated as special and not thrown out with the trash. I’ve always been a good paper, aluminum and plastic recycler but I have no idea what to do with this other stuff.