When I moved from Anchorage to Fairbanks in the mid-1970s there was a broad recycling program in place with containers in various parts of town.  This had encourage many to adopt that mindset.  Then (as I recall) the Borough's grant expired and that was the end of it.  Those who had been happy to have this alternative to feeding the landfill were then faced with adapting to taking everything to the dump once again.