Recycling at Hinds Plaza in Princeton, NJ

There's been discussion of improving recycling in Princeton's Hinds Plaza, next to the public library. It's easy to figure out whether the current system is working:

One drawback to the existing system is that the trash and recycling containers look very similar. Function in upscale locations is often sacrificed for uniform, stylized appearance.

One thing helping to overcome this drawback is that the recycling and trash containers are paired for the most part, so that people are presented with a choice. A recycling container off on its own is treated by pedestrians as a trashcan.

Some of the containers have lost their tops, which need to be secured with wire so they don't walk away. Altogether, four tops have wandered off. Trash cans outnumber recycling receptacles 6 to 4.

Despite the similarity in design, there's still pretty good separation going on. This snoopybird's eye view shows some contamination with nonrecyclables but not much. The question is whether even this small amount of contamination is allowed by the hauler, or if these bags end up in the trash.

Next door, in the public library cafe, the contrast between the trash and recycling containers was enhanced by putting a new, clearly marked and small aperture top on the recycling container. Separation improved greatly after this was done.

Since some tops are missing from the receptacles outside, perhaps this sort of retrofit could be used in the plaza as well. Four new tops are needed anyway, and there are four recycling containers outside--a convenient coincidence. Since rain would get in, something other than plastic bags would need to be used inside the receptacles so that water doesn't accumulate.