Unfortunately, not satire. My mom used to live in the Bronx (she's now on the Island w/ us) and no lie.....she had 4 separate bags for garbage!!!
And yes, they actually PAY "INSPECTORS" to walk the city streets, w/ fine book in hand and INSPECT EVERYONE'S GARBAGE CANS!!!!
The niece upstairs was fined for throwing a plastic hanger in the "plastic garbage". Apparently, a plastic hanger is "regular garbage", not "plastic garbage".
Absolute insanity! Thank goodness it hasn't come to Long Island.....yet.
I think that state payed police sifting through your garbage is an incredible waste of taxpayer money AND an INVASION OF PRIVACY.