I Recycle

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

It's a difficult concept to imagine a world without a standardized way to dispose of and organize your garbage; however, until World War II, recycling was merely a figment of one's imagination. The earliest method of recycling, during the late 1800s, was the role of a ragman who would purchase old rags and recycle the material into paper. In response to World War II, Americans began to collect recycled products—tin cans, cooking oils, and other waste—understanding that proper disposal would greatly benefit the environment. These cleaning efforts could not prevent environmental disasters such as the infamous Cuyahoga River fires. By the 1960s, with the rise of the environmental movement and an increase in ecological issues, curbside pickup quickly became the norm, and environmental legislation started to pass. Since then, recycling rates have increased to 32% in 2023, making the world a cleaner place.