In ancient Japan, paper was highly valued and not wasted. Records from 1031 show that people began collecting used paper and reprocessing it into new sheets. This practice was encouraged by Buddhist monks, who often reused paper for writing scriptures, making Japan one of the first places in history to adopt systematic recycling.
In medieval towns, scraps of cloth and worn garments were collected, respun, and reused, often transformed into paper pulp — an early form of resource conservation.
The Rittenhouse Mill in Philadelphia, founded by William Rittenhouse, was the first paper mill in North America. It used recycled cotton and linen rags to make paper instead of cutting down trees. This was a significant step in material reuse during a time when natural resources were harder to come by.
With the spread of mechanized factories, blacksmiths and mills systematically gathered leftover iron and steel scraps to remelt, reducing the need for raw ore.
Ragpickers (“chiffonniers”) scoured city streets each night, salvaging glass, bones, rags, and metals, which were resold to industries — creating one of the first large-scale urban recycling networks.
During the early 20th century, as cities grew and industry expanded, scrap metal recycling became common. Blacksmiths and factories collected leftover metals like copper, tin, and iron to melt down and reuse. This informal recycling helped meet increasing industrial demands before mass production took over.
Beverage companies in the U.S. introduce refundable deposits on bottles to encourage return and reuse — a key step toward organized recycling.
During the Great Depression, schools and communities organize drives to collect newspapers and cardboard, turning economic hardship into early recycling action.
During World War II, governments across the U.S., U.K., and other nations launched major recycling campaigns. Citizens were urged to save and donate rubber, aluminum cans, cooking fats, and paper to help with military production. These efforts showed the power of community recycling and resource conservation during times of crisis.
April 22, 1970 marked the first-ever Earth Day, a nationwide environmental movement in the United States. It sparked major public concern for pollution and waste. That same year, the universal recycling symbol (♻️) was created by a 23-year-old college student, Gary Anderson, as part of a design contest. It became an iconic part of the recycling movement.
In the 1980s, cities and towns in the United States, Canada, and Europe began introducing curbside recycling collection services. Households could now separate recyclables like newspapers, bottles, and cans from their trash. This made recycling more convenient and significantly increased participation and recycling rates.
By the 1990s, recycling bins had become a regular part of homes, schools, and offices. Governments passed new regulations to reduce waste, such as bottle deposit programs and mandatory recycling laws. Public awareness about environmental issues grew, and recycling became a standard expectation in many communities around the world.
In the 2010s and beyond, recycling efforts evolved into broader sustainability movements. Many cities and companies adopted zero waste goals, aiming to reduce waste to near zero through recycling, composting, and reuse. The circular economy model became popular, focusing on designing products and systems that keep materials in use for as long as possible to reduce environmental harm.