I Recycle

On a white background, a green and black illustration of a globe with green text over the illustration.

It's difficult to imagine a world without a standardized way to dispose of and reuse your waste; however, until World War II, recycling was merely a figment of one's imagination. To aid the war effort, Americans began to collect products—tin cans, cooking oils, and other metal-based waste—which could be reused by the military. By the 1960s, the concept of recycling as a way to  benefit the environment became more widely accepted; curbside pickup quickly became the norm and environmental legislations began to be introduced in local, state, and national governments. Since then, recycling rates have increased to 32% in 2023, making the world a cleaner place.