recycling
Sign in to savethumb|The three chasing arrows of the universal recycling symbol thumb|Municipal waste recycling rate (%), 2015 Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. This concept often includes the recovery of energy from waste materials. The recyclability of a material depends on its ability to reacquire the properties it had in its original state. It is an alternative to "conventional" waste disposal that can save material and help lower greenhouse gas emissions. It can also prevent the waste of potentially useful materials and reduce the consumption of fresh
AI overview
Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects, sometimes also recovering energy from them in the process. It offers an alternative to disposing of waste that can conserve materials, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and prevent useful materials from being wasted.
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Article
43 sectionsContents
- History
- Origins
- Wartime
- Post-World War II
- Health and environmental impact
- Health impact
- E-waste
- Slag recycling
- Environmental impact
- Legislation
- Supply
- Government-mandated demand
- Types of recycling
- Recyclates
- Quality of recyclate
- Recycling consumer waste
- Collection
- Curbside collection
- Source separation
- Buy-back centers
- Drop-off centers
- Distributed recycling
- Sorting
- Recycling industrial waste
- Plastic recycling
- Physical recycling
- Chemical recycling
- Waste plastic pyrolysis to fuel oil
- Recycling codes
- Cost–benefit analysis
- Trade in recyclates
- Criticisms and responses
- Net environmental benefits
- Economic costs
- Working conditions and social costs
- Public participation rates
- Recycling in art
- Embracing a circular economy through advanced sorting technologies
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
- Related journals
thumb|The three chasing arrows of the universal recycling symbol thumb|Municipal waste recycling rate (%), 2015 Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. This concept often includes the recovery of energy from waste materials. The recyclability of a material depends on its ability to reacquire the properties it had in its original state. It is an alternative to "conventional" waste disposal that can save material and help lower 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 landfilling).
Recycling is a key component of modern waste reduction and represents the third step in the "Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle" waste hierarchy, contributing to environmental sustainability and resource conservation. It promotes environmental sustainability by removing raw material input and redirecting waste output in the economic system. There are some ISO standards related to recycling, such as ISO 15270:2008 for plastics waste and ISO 14001:2015 for environmental management control of recycling practice.