History of the Recycling Symbol

Recycling Symbol - CompuCycle

The triple arrowed logo has become the universal recycling symbol, but did you know that the design originally started as a money-making idea for a Chicago-based packaging company? Or that the logo was created as part of a design contest to mark the first official Earth Day?

 

The recycling symbol came into a global recognition in the early 1970s when a design contest was held by a Chicago-based company, Container Corporation of America, a large producer of recycled paperboard, sponsored a contest for art and design students at high school and colleges across the country to raise awareness of environmental issues and that would symbolize the paper recycling process. The winning logo was designed by Gary Anderson, then a 23-year-old student at the University of Southern California. The image we now know as the universal recycling symbol was unveiled on the first-ever Earth Day in April of 1970.

Recycling Symbol - CompuCycle

The recycle symbol is made up of three arrows in a triangle inspired by a Mobius loop – a surface that had only one side and no end. Each arrow twists and turns itself, and all three arrows chase each other. The symbol is the perfect representation of recycling.

 

Today, the original symbol and the many versions it has inspired are used as generic recycling labels.

 

CompuCycle recycles over 6 million pounds of electronics and refurbishes over 72 thousand assets annually. The unique recycling symbol in our logo represents our recycling hierarchy; refurbishing equipment for reuse, harvesting components for reuse and environmentally responsible, safe and secure recycling.

Recent Articles

CompuCycle Unveils a New Website, Highlighting Continued Leadership in Secure and Sustainable IT Asset Disposition

October 25, 2024

CompuCycle, a Houston-based leader in IT asset disposition (ITAD), has launched a brand new website! This exciting development reflects not only their commitment to staying at the forefront of the industry, but also their dedication…

Read More

How ITAD and Cybersecurity Work Together to Reduce the Impact of Insider Threats

October 8, 2024

In an era where data breaches are increasingly common, safeguarding information is crucial. Insider threats, whether stemming from malicious intent or unintentional actions, pose significant risks to organizations. A recent study by ID Watchdog revealed…

Read More

When to Choose Data Sanitization Over Data Destruction: A Guide to Data Lifecycle Management for IT Managers

September 3, 2024

Imagine a data breach that exposes your company’s trade secrets. Or worse, a regulatory violation due to improper data disposal. These scenarios can have devastating consequences. As the stewards of corporate data, IT managers must…

Read More

How Procurement Drives ESG Success in IT Asset Disposition

July 30, 2024

In today’s corporate landscape, sustainability is no longer a buzzword but a core component of business strategy. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria are increasingly influencing decision-making processes across all levels of organizations. One area…

Read More

How ITAD and Cybersecurity Work Together to Reduce the Impact of Insider Threats

In an era where data breaches are increasingly common, safeguarding information is crucial. Insider threats, whether stemming from malicious intent...
Read More about How ITAD and Cybersecurity Work Together to Reduce the Impact of Insider Threats

Fortune 1000 Company – Data Center Decommissioning Services

The Challenge CompuCycle’s Fortune 1000 customer was in need of data center decommissioning to remove all server and network equipment from a 3rd party datacenter. 76 Complete...
Read More about Fortune 1000 Company – Data Center Decommissioning Services