What all started as a simple excursion to the hardware store to pick up a vacuum cleaner ended up like a scene out of "Annie Hall." The two of us scratching our heads and muttering as we consulted each other on whether it was recyclable or not. From the plastic on the outside, to the gargantuan cardboard box it came in, to the hard styrofoam packing, we simply could not figure out what to do with all the crap that HAD to be recyclable. But months of fines from the New York sanitaion department had us paralyzed with trepidation.

We try. We really do. Especially considering that I'm the founder and editor-in-chief of a new environmental media company. But dammit if recycling in New York City isn't as baffling and ultimately as difficult as everything else in this city.

It doesn't help when the city constantly changes the rules, either. For a long time — longer than most urban areas — you couldn't recycle in New York at all. Then in 1989 the New York City Council enacted laws for curbside recycling service. But, as Eric Goldstein reported in the Gotham Gazette, "in 2002 Mayor Bloomberg proposed to 'suspend' the recycling of metals, plastic and glass. With the city facing a serious budget shortfall, sanitation department officials forecast that such recycling cuts would result in annual savings of $51 million, due in large part to the reduced number of waste collection trucks that would be needed under the proposed cutbacks." But the economics of of this decision were challenged by city recycling advocates and eventually the city backed down. But that didn't mean they were going to like it or make it easy on residents who did like it.

So now you have, ironically, a sort of hybrid system. And as easy as it SHOULD be (use product, put used packaging into bag, recycle, repeat), it's not always clear what can and cannot be recycled. For example, according to the New York City Residential Recycling Guide I found on the NRDC website, you CAN recycle metal cans, foil, plastic bottles, plastic jugs, glass jars, and wire hangers but not plastic bags, styrofoam, plastic utensils, plates, or wrap. Even if the bag has a recyclable arrow logo on it, it won't fly in New York city. I forget that one a lot. Also, all recyclables have to be in clear bags and placed out on your curb the night before pick up. There's still some confusion over whether clear bags can be the tinted blue kind or not. If your bag is placed out on the wrong day (or too early on the day before) you will be fined. Who pays the fine is also still in question.

If the sanitation worker on the day of pick up decides he or she doesn't like what's in your bag (since they can, of course, see everything in the clear bag), it sits on your curb until someone (usually you) picks it up and does the walk of shame to the corner trash bin. And the irony is not lost on anyone. In fact, the comparative ease of simply putting all of your refuse into a normal trash bag and thowing it "away" makes reclying that much more difficult. You know you're trying to do something for the good of the city, but all the rules and regulations make it a challenge that you really have to feel passionate about.

Still, at the end of the day (or very early in the morning!!) it's still a worthy goal. And the next time you find yourself confused about what to do with a big pile of trash you've accumulated, go online, read the (probably revised) recycling guide and follow it to the T. It can be a pain, but eventually it will pay off for everyone.