reusing
Giving second life
Reusing is using something again rather than discarding it after a single use.
The term appears frequently in environmental contexts alongside recycling and reducing: reusing shopping bags, reusing glass jars for storage.
Software developers speak of reusing code—incorporating existing modules into new programs rather than writing from scratch.
Having had prior ownership
- thriftCareful use of resources
- preownedPreviously belonging to another
- swapExchange one for another
- barterDirect goods-for-goods exchange
trade · rental · borrowing · lending · shared · communal · exchange · flea market
Adapt for new use
- preserveProtect from loss
- maintainKeep in condition
- prolongExtend in duration
- restoreReturn to earlier state
recondition · renew · revitalize · rehabilitate · refresh · salvage · reclaim · extend
Reprocessing used materials
- compostingDecomposing organic matter deliberately
- zero-wasteNo garbage produced
- circularForming a closed curve
- sustainabilityCapacity to endure indefinitely
waste reduction · eco-friendly · green · resourceful · biodegradable · renewable · plastics · glass
Improving discarded materials' value
- repurposeAdapt for new use
- DIYAmateur home projects
- craftingSkillful manual creation
- transformationThorough change in form
customization · makeover · redesign · reimagine · reinvent · handmade · creativity · restoration
secondhand
Having had prior ownership
barter · trade · rental · borrowing · lending · shared · communal · exchange · flea market · consignment
repurpose
Adapt for new use
restore · recondition · renew · revitalize · rehabilitate · refresh · salvage · reclaim · extend · repair
recycling
Reprocessing used materials
- compostingDecomposing organic matter deliberately
- zero-wasteNo garbage produced
- circularForming a closed curve
sustainability · waste reduction · eco-friendly · green · resourceful · biodegradable · renewable · plastics · glass · metal
upcycling
Improving discarded materials' value
transformation · customization · makeover · redesign · reimagine · reinvent · handmade · creativity · restoration · reclaimed
- eco kidsnature walks, nature hikes, Earth Day, recycling, tree planting
- resource conservationrecycling, energy saving, composting, rainwater harvesting, insulation
- eco actionsrecycling, composting, tree planting, water conservation, energy saving
- frugalityfrugality, thrift, frugal, penny-pinching, economize
- resource useconsumption, recycling, conservation, waste, efficiency
- sustainable livingrecycling, composting, solar power, wind power, renewable
reusingdiscarding
Removing what's unwanted
throwing away · disposing · trashing · junking · tossing
reusingwasting
Using poorly, inefficiently
squandering · consuming · depleting · exhausting · single-use
using, usage, usable, reuse, utilitarian, reused, reuses, reusable, reusability