Where I live (Belgium) waste collectors pick up "rest" waste in relatively expensive trash bags weekly, PMD (plastic/metal/drink cartons) weekly, compostable waste every two weeks, cardboard monthly, and glass also monthly. Certain things we have to bring ourselves to a collection point (batteries) or recycling park where everything gets sorted even more specifically. I tend to go to the recycling park once every two or three months, the rest gets collected at home.

So the stuff they collect doesn't need 12 different kinds of bags/bins, and the (financial) incentives are correctly aligned. I think it's a good system and pretty convenient, but I'd wish they recycle & process the waste even better afterwards. But the hardest part – getting the population on board – seems to be well-established.

Recycling is difficult, some materials are relatively easy (aluminium cans, steel), some not so much (plastics f.e. tend to degrade, some materials are energy intensive to recover). Contaminants are a major issue that still need more public awareness. But we're going in the right direction.