The History of Recycling

Recycling has become a major part of everyday life in several countries throughout the world. Once used as a means to keep resources from going scarce during times of war or economic hardship, recycling is now used as a way to keep the environment healthy through prevent garbage from over accumulating as well as a way to keep numerous resources from going scarce.

Recycling During Ancient Times

• As early as 400 BC, recycling was a part of Ancient Greece. However, it was not used for reducing garbage or any sort of environmental purpose. For the most part, it was performed during times of war or hardship as a means to prevent resources from going scarce, through the refashioning of weaponry or farming items as they decayed or broke down.

England And Recycling Before 20th Century

• During the pre-industrial age, the people of England would recycle bronze by melting down unused items. These items would then be refashioned into newer types of items. Recycling was a major part of brick making. Dust and ash from English chimneys would be used to create brick mortar, a much cheaper alternative to purchasing mortar on the market. Most household items at the time were recycled in the sense that they would be reused or broken down to create new models of the same items. Recycling at this point was an economic necessity instead of an environmental one.

Paper Recycling

• Paper recycling occurred as early as 1691 in Philadelphia via the Rittenhouse Paper Company. New York in 1895 had an order to recycle paper and other items for sanitation purposes. World War I however, brought about the environmental need to recycle paper due to the scarcity of resources. Great Britain in 1921 established the rules necessary to recycle paper and other items that had seen a downturn in production following the war. Other countries in Europe followed suit, having seen their production halted due to issues in their factories stemming from the war or work force strikes as well as a disruption in trade.

Recycling During Great Depression And World War II

• The Great Depression brought about a need to recycle within the United States. While the U.S. had been immune to the economic issues that were created after World War I due to geographical reasons, the worldwide depression forced everyday Americans to rethink their practices. Energy conservation went to the forefront, especially for those who found that money was so tight, they had to watch how much power they used for fear they could not pay their bills. Materials that had been so easily found before the Depression became scarce due to a lack of funds, forcing people to go back to reusing or refashioning their older materials.

  During World War II, every country involved in the war effort had to recycle wartime materials due to a lack of international trade and the scarcity of their own resources. Countries that did not have many natural resources, such as Japan, found themselves turning to recycling as a means of keeping up with the war.

Modern Recycling

• By the late 1960s and early 1970s, the combination of rising energy costs and the sudden awareness of environmental concerns brought about an effort to introduce everyday recycling as part of ones daily routine. Woodbury, New Jersey, became the first city in America to place mandatory recycling rules into law. Several other cities followed suit. Today, every major community in the United States has a recycling system in place, usually consisting of separating items such as plastic, cans, and paper from normal garbage and waste with the idea behind it being that such a manner of recycling will prevent an overuse of waste sites that could harm the environment.