Recycle

History

• Recycling has been a common practice throughout human history and will always be one of the main issues we will face as long as our plant earth is here.

• According to many sources, recycling first began in 10,000 B.C, where waste became an issue for the public and it increased as settlements were being created.

• Over the course of many years, waste increased and so did the population. Many people around the world sought out this issue and wanted to establish voluntary bases, which eventually would lead up to the uprising of recycling. Here are some featured events that enhanced recycling over the course of time.

• In 1914, there were 300 incinerators in the U.S.

• The first investment to be recycled was paper. It began in Britain which occurred in 1921. The reason for establishing this investment was because they wanted to encourage people to recycle paper and be more helpful with disposing their waste products. Since then, world-changing incidents caused by world wars as well as many organizations, programs, etc. supported and encouraged recycling.

• In 1965, The Federal government comes to terms that waste has become a major issue and enacts the Solid Waste Disposal Act. This calls for the nation to find better ways of dealing with garbage.

• In 1968, The United States aluminum industry begins recycling discarded aluminum products, from beverage cans to window blinds.

• On April, 22, 1970, the very first Earth Day introduces the conceptions and ideas of recycling to the public.

• In 1970, The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is established.

• In the 1970’s, the next asset that occurred was the rising of energy costs. As years go by, waste increases. Many organizations fought against this uprising. It seems as if, the more waste produced and poorly disposing increased, the more activists volunteered.

• In 1976, The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act is passed, which requires all dumps to be replaced with "sanitary landfills." The enforcement of this act increases recycling and the cost of landfill disposal.

• In 1980, The Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund) was approved.

• In 1984, Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments approved.

• In 1988, Ocean Dumping Ban passed. The Plastic Bottle Institute develops a material identification code system for plastic bottle manufacturers (#1-6).

• In 1991, the federal recycling order is signed.

• In 1992, U.N. Earth Summit promotes sustainable development.

• In 1993, Municipal Solid Waste criterion landfill becomes effective for most landfill wastes in the U.S.