Is it because you claim not to know where to take recyclable materials to be processed?
Ha ha! If you live in Johannesburg, scratch that excuse off your apathetic list, and revert to the “I am a useless human” excuse.
I present, for your benefaction, the Pikitup list of Garden Refuse Transfer sites (something of a nightmare to discover on your own via that site’s page navigation) — many of which include recycling facilities for all manner of substances. In fact, almost everything you are currently chucking in the bin could probably have been recycled — even electronic waste.
Make an effort. Keep those recyclable plastics, cardboard, paper, glass, and tins separate, and deliver them to your nearest site every now and again. The list on the webpage even has street addresses. I promise, it gives you a cheery warm feeling deep inside when you drop off a batch of stuff that would otherwise have reported to a landfill.
The Waffle Group 
ahhh, We are very lucky here in London, they give us big green wheelie bins that we put our recyclables into and they collect 🙂
You will be amazed at how you reduce the amount the actual garbage you throw away when you start recycling. Now if only I had a food disposal unit to get rid of my organic material 🙂
I like the STOP button on my internet browser.
I am a useless human!
I am also a lazy human, which means I don’t want to waste half an hour picking through their (somewhat incomprehensible) list of sites. I will therefore demand of The Waffle Master information concerning the site closest to him… which is also quite likely to be the site closest to me 🙂
Michael: Those Europeans (arguably, that little island you find yourself on is included) have been on the ball with this sort of thing for a while.
It does indeed significantly reduce the quantity of waste. This is why I am now attempting to propagandise, because I have discovered the benefits.
Kevin: Indeed, it has a lovely red colour.
Quinn: I am sure you have wasted plenty of time on less worthy pursuits. Still, I may bow to your demands — Fairlands Garden Site is closest to me, although I haven’t actually been there yet. I have previously dropped off recycling at the Victory Park Garden Site on the way to Rosebank
Hooray for halfhaggis, leader of the green-ish propagandisement. How we roll in the syrup of his sweet words.
jenbug: You are destined to go far