Noun the action or process of converting waste into reusable material. A call for the recycling of all paper. Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. Energy recovery from waste materials is often included in this concept.
The recyclability of a material depends on its ability to recover the properties it had in its original state. It is an alternative to conventional waste disposal that can save material and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It can also prevent the waste of potentially useful materials and reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reducing energy use, air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfills). We asked readers what recycling means to them and where they think it's headed this year, while highlighting some of the most common technical, academic and cultural definitions.
