The History Of Recycling

Recycling, or the method of re-processing and reusing waste items and materials, has long been practiced by many societies. Artifacts and archeological studies have indicated that as early as 400 BC, ancient waste dumps have shown less household wastes, especially during periods where there was a reported scarcity in resources. The lack of household wastes in ancient dumpsites has clearly shown that more waste was being recycled, due to the scarcity of new materials.

Recycling During The Pre-Industrial Age

During pre-industrial times, there was clear evidence of the collection of scrap metals like bronze, iron and steel in Europe. These scrap items were often melted down and formed into new products.

In medieval England, people collected ash and dust from wood and coal fires, and these were used as base material for brick-making. During these times, recycling was motivated by the economic advantage of getting recycled feedstock, instead of simply buying new raw materials. The absence of a public waste removal and disposal system also made recycling a necessary task during these times.

The Lack Of Resources Encouraged Recycling During Wartime

The outbreak of two major world wars in the early 20th century brought crippling shortages of precious natural resources. These major world-changing occurrences dipped available resources, and forced governments to encourage recycling. During World Wars 1 and 2, governments urged their citizens to conserve wood, paper, textiles, fiber, and even donate metals and precious jewelry. During these timess, governments and private businesses organized strict resource conservation programs, which were often continued even after the war ended.

Recycling During The Post-War Era

Recycling went full steam even after World War 2 ended. During the 1970’s, rising energy costs and the oil embargo forced companies and governments to heavily invest in recycling initiatives. The idea of placing a recycling trailer behind the back of a waste management vehicle allowed for the easy collection of garbage and recyclable materials in most US cities.

The economic boom of the post-war years eroded the ideals of conservation and the wise use of resources from the consciousness of most people in the developed world. However, the growth of the environmental movement, and the celebration of the first Earth Day in 1970 put conservation and recycling back in the mainstream. While recycling has not yet been fully accepted by some societies, recent figures suggest that public acceptance, and the market for recycled products, has significantly risen. Today, most cities and towns have laws and enforced systems for collecting and handling recyclable material.

One of the major reasons for the increasing popularity of recycling, is the need for reducing the amount of garbage sent to landfills. The recycling initiatives of today have already diverted 32 percent, or 60 million tons of garbage, from our landfills.