Living Green: The Missing Manual

Recycling: What Goes Around Comes Around

Recycling is a good idea that's been around for a while. Modern recycling was born in the environmental movement of the 1960s and '70s. To coincide with the very first Earth Day—April 22, 1970—the Container Corporation of America, a major producer of recycled paperboard, sponsored a contest for art and design students to create a logo that symbolized the recycling process. UCLA student Gary Dean Anderson won with his triple-arrow design that has become one of the most recognized symbols on the planet.

In the 1970s, concern over rising energy costs led companies to consider recycling as a way to save money. Combined with a growing interest in protecting the environment and concerns over pollution and wasteful use of resources, the recycling movement gained momentum. Beginning in the early '70s, cities and towns passed recycling laws, arranged for curbside recycling pick-up, and set up recycling drop-off centers. States and countries banned certain kinds of recyclable materials from landfills and passed bottle-bill laws to encourage recycling of bottles and aluminum cans. Many companies and schools set up on-site recycling containers for paper, glass, and cans. The recycling movement has made it easy to recycle today—at work, at school, and at home.

Is Recycling Worth It?

Many people recycle without thinking twice about it. But have you ever wondered ...