When was recycling started in some US communities?

Answer 1

Many small towns and cities started recycling programs in the early 1980s (with the blue recycling bins). But they had not established recycling centers to deal with what garbage men collected from the bins. And cities did not have money to truck/ship the recycled trash to a recycling center. So most of these beginning programs died.

Then, cities tried again, with citizens who wanted to recycle paying a small fee for the bin. But again, it failed.

Now, most small cities/towns do NOT have curb service recycling. A city may have a drop off point, say at the City Hall, but citizens must transport it all there.

No one has figured out how to make recycling pay for itself, and pay in every town.