It's the law in D.C. - recycle or face a fine from the Department of Public Works. Dupont Circle resident Patricia White says she has been fined eight times for throwing homemade cat litter in her trash. The fines total $2,000. According to White, the inspector admitted to digging through trash looking for violations.

In Philly, it's illegal to not put out recyclables. Residents who fail to put out a container for recycling are subject to having their garbage searched for recyclable materials; if they find "a considerable amount of recyclables mixed in with the trash... a citation is issued."