Recycling is the process of collecting, sorting and turning materials that would otherwise be discarded into new products.
Recycling is the process of collecting, sorting and turning materials that would otherwise be discarded into new products.
In practice, recycling begins with the collection of used materials from households or businesses, followed by the sorting and cleaning of those materials before they are re‑processed into manufacturing feedstock. After processing, the recycled materials are made into new products and purchased by consumers. This cycle relies on consumer behaviour, industrial processing and product design. Related terms include circular economy and material recovery.