We have a recycling program here also. The city provides 3 oversized rolling carts (one for trash, one for recyclables and one for yard waste) and free paper bags for yard waste. We are also allowed to haul 2 free loads of yard waste to the compost site each month.
They have massive equipment at the composting site. The shredder chews up and mulches 24" log rounds (may even bigger). They literally have mountains of the stuff out there. It is actively managed, turned and aerated as a compost pile should be. A mountain becomes a hill as it breaks down.
The composted material is then given free to the residents a few times per year.
It is claimed that the recycle cost is far cheaper than the landfill fees. The city has to haul the garbage to a certified landfill 3 counties away so there may well be some truth to the statement that it is cheaper. The local dump fee for C&D is $29 per ton and I imagine the certified trash site charges even more.
While I am critical of the government in a lot of places, this one seems to make sense to me.
There is also a local private company that has done quite well running a compost business using the horse stall cleanings.
Colbyt