1924, verbal noun from recycle (v.). Originally a technical term in oil-refining and similar industries; its broader consumer sense dates from 1960.
Entries linking to recycling
recycle v.
"to reuse material," 1922, originally of industrial processes; see re- + cycle (v.). Specifically of waste material reclaimed or converted into usable form, by 1960. General or figurative use is by 1969. Related: Recycled; recycling.