recycling
Turning trash useful
Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new products or raw materials.
Paper, glass, plastic, and metal are commonly recycled to reduce landfill use and conserve resources.
The term extends to reusing or repurposing anything: She's been recycling the same jokes for years.
As an adjective: recycling bin, recycling program.
Capable of being molded
- glassTransparent solid from sand
- paperPressed pulp for writing
- aluminumElement thirteen
- cardboardRigid paper for containers
metals · batteries · electronics · textiles · rubber · packaging · containers · bottles
Improving discarded materials' value
- repurposeAdapt for new use
- secondhandHaving had prior ownership
- thriftCareful use of resources
- refurbishRestore worn items
reclaim · salvage · recondition · remanufacture · rework · hand-me-downs · freecycle · donation
Capable of restoration
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- eco-friendlyNot harming the environment
- zero-wasteNo garbage produced
- greenColor of vegetation
Arranging into sequence
- collectionGathered set of items
- processingSystematic operation on data
- shreddingCutting into thin pieces
- meltingSolid-to-liquid transition
baling · curbside · pickup · bins · facilities · centers · plants · separation
Three-sided plane figures
- labelsIdentifying markers attached to items
- certificationAttestation of qualification
- numberingAssigning sequential figures
plastic
Capable of being molded
cardboard · metals · batteries · electronics · textiles · rubber · packaging · containers · bottles · cans
upcycling
Improving discarded materials' value
- repurposeAdapt for new use
- secondhandHaving had prior ownership
- thriftCareful use of resources
refurbish · reclaim · salvage · recondition · remanufacture · rework · hand-me-downs · freecycle · donation · resale
renewable
Capable of restoration
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- eco-friendlyNot harming the environment
- zero-wasteNo garbage produced
green · low-impact · closed-loop · lifecycle · environmental
sorting
Arranging into sequence
- collectionGathered set of items
- processingSystematic operation on data
- shreddingCutting into thin pieces
melting · baling · curbside · pickup · bins · facilities · centers · plants · separation · contamination
triangles
Three-sided plane figures
- labelsIdentifying markers attached to items
- certificationAttestation of qualification
- numberingAssigning sequential figures
- eco-friendlysustainable, fair trade, green, biodegradable, compostable
- ecologyhabitat, ecosystem, balance, niche, food webs
- environmentalismecology, conservationism, campaigner, environmentalism, conservationist
- human-environment interactionfarming, fishing, hunting, mining, logging
- recyclingMRF, single-stream, curbside, curbside pickup, blue bin
- waste managementwaste, trash, garbage, rubbish, refuse
recyclinglandfilling
Burying waste in earth
dumping · discarding · trashing · incineration · throwing away
recyclingsingle-use
For one application only
disposability · throwaway culture · planned obsolescence · wastefulness · consumption
recyclingwasting
Using poorly, inefficiently
wastefulness · squandering · littering · polluting · overconsumption
- recycling binVessel for reprocessable materials
- recycling symbolMark indicating reprocessability
- recycling systemsInfrastructure for material recovery
- recycling centersFacilities processing discarded materials
- paper recyclingConverting used sheets anew
- recycling plantsSites reprocessing discarded materials