Relevant
Also then, as now, it was a solved problem. A bin lorry comes along once a week (sometimes more at Christmas) and takes the contents of the bins away. These days they split it between recycling and landfill waste, when I lived in the town they also had a compost bin but being in the country now we are expected to instead generate our own compost.
Oh and we have to take our bottles to a bottle bank (loads of car parks near train stations, parks, supermarkets, shopping centres, pubs and other such locations have them). Don't think they have ever been taken away in a recycling bin here, never been paid for said empties in my lifetime either. Was different when I was in the US. There are also some more specialist plastics recycling locations popping up in the UK nowadays but they have not made it where I am at.
Occasionally we chuck some things in the back of the van to take to the dump (generally a free location -- only businesses really pay for it, though you might be limited in some things). If I am playing sparky or plumber and have some copper scrap then scrap yard to sell it. Most other common metals are not worth it until you are at the point of running your own fabrication shop, or are in one of the trades and fancy a small perk on top of the copper.
Being a filthy hippy at heart then reduce, reuse, recycle is a thing. If you prefer more old school then "Use it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do, or Do Without" also is in play.