By the late '70s, officials in most cities and even some ordinary citizens began to stew over a problem they'd not thought much about. This thinking, along with increased awareness of the finite nature of Earth's resources, prompted some to begin searching for answers. A few people began recycling on a limited basis, their efforts added to those of the businesses who routinely recycled products they used frequently. Public education on the subject increased. An Earth Day, April 28, was decreed.
Many people still consider it a hassle.
Only financial incentives and government decrees have been able to make recycling happen on a grand scale, especially among businesses, where at least half of the waste stream generates. Most experts argue that for commercial recycling to take hold, the economic perspective is the only one that sells. When you talk about recycling, you have to think about more than the environmental spin. Companies have been recycling for years because their waste stream has been a source of revenue for them. Umana points out that the new movement in the field is to minimize waste before generating it.