Recycling ---- The Beginning

other materials and fibers. Americans in particular viewed this as a patriotic responsibility.  Countries which had limited natural resources, such as Japan, continued to carry out reuse programs. 

As energy costs began to rise in the 1970s, emphasis and awareness of the impact of reuse and recycling was renewed.  Aluminum recycling uses only 5% of the energy required to produce virgin aluminum.  Significant energy savings are obtained when glass, paper and other scrap metals are reused using recycled feedstock.
 
Curbside recycling of newspaper first began in Berkeley, California in 1973, and shortly after, New Jersey became the first state to mandate recycling. 

In 1987, a barge originating from New York and hauling over 3000 tons of garbage was denied entry into port in North Carolina.  It then journeyed to Belize and back, finally being allowed entry into the port of New York after seven months at sea.  New attention and debate was focused on waste and recycling. 

Two years later, Berkeley prohibited the use of polystyrene packaging used to keep fast food warm.  This prompted the world’s largest manufacturer of polystyrene, Dow Chemical, to lead the first major effort in plastic recycling technology.
  
Recycling has become a major industry in the United States, employing thousands of workers and saving energy, reducing land fill demand, and conserving valuable resources. Residential Recycling of Texas is proud to be a part of this industry.

Recycling is not a new concept.  As early as the 1600s, bronze scrap and other precious metals were collected and “recycled” for perpetual reuse.  Dust and ash in Britain from wood and coal fires were used as material in brick making.  Just as today, reuse of materials was largely driven by economics. 

As early as 1921, Britain established the British Waste paper Association to encourage waste paper reuse.

Shortages produced by both World Wars prompted government promotions of conservation and reuse in every country involved in the war.  Citizens donated metals and were encouraged to conserve