Each year, Memphis, Tenn., residents put tons of materials in their recycling bins hoping that those materials will be given a new life. However, due to the current state of recycling markets, many of those materials end up in landfills.

According to a FOX 13 report, Republic Services owns the two landfills and the materials recovery facility in Memphis. And when it comes down to it, if materials have low market value, the decision comes down to dollars and cents, according to the report.

Since the implementation of China’s import restrictions, cities like Memphis have nowhere to send their recyclables.

FOX 13 has more details:

Memphians recycle thousands of tons of waste each year - or so they thought.

FOX13 Investigates found a loophole that means the company we pay to recycle our waste doesn't actually have to.

"People want to know that if they're taking that time to separate the materials and put it in the bin it is actually being followed through on,” Scott Banbury, Conservation Program Coordinator for the Tennessee Chapter of Sierra Club told FOX13 Tuesday.

Read the full article here.