Timeline of L.A. recycling
Timeline: Recycling in L.A.
1983: Home recycling pilot program starts
1989: State sets goal of 50% municipal waste to be recycled and diverted from landfills by 2000
1990: Yellow bin accepts glass bottles, aluminum and tin cans, and plastic bottles labeled “1” and “2”; newspapers are tied in bundles and set next to the bin
1993: Green bin added for compostable yard waste
1994: “Single-stream” pilot program allows participants to mix paper, food packaging and cardboard with glass, metal and 1 and 2 plastics in new blue bins
1997: Blue bins are rolled out citywide
2004: Metal hangers and plastics numbered 3 to 7 added to blue bin
2005: Plastic bags added to blue bin
2007: Polystyrene containers, packaging and other plastic commonly called Styrofoam added to blue bins
2011: In L.A., 65% of household waste is recycled
— Susan Carpenter
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.