After one year, Seattle is recycling almost 30 percent of its household trash, and putting the rest in landfills.

To this end, residents must place all household trash into either black or green bags.

The city's overall recycling rate, meanwhile, has stalled at about 15 percent of household trash.

Used bandages are supposed to be sealed in plastic bags and thrown out with the rest of the household trash.

Others burn household trash or construction debris, which not only release harmful chemicals and pollution, but can be against state law.

For example, in 2008, California passed legislation banning throwing needles in household trash.

While other states have larger incinerator systems planned, Connecticut is already burning 40 to 60 percent of its household trash, the state estimates.

There are the illegal sidewalk barbecues and garbage cans full of household trash.

They said they expected the agreement to call for mandatory recycling of some household trash throughout the state by 1993.

But they appear to have been innocently discarded at sea or in the household trash.