ENGLISH
REFERENCE

recycling

n. uncountable
A2 Elementary US //ɹiˈsaɪkəɫɪŋ// UK //ɹɪsˈaɪklɪŋ// re·cy·cling

n. the process of collecting and changing old materials like paper, glass, and plastic so they can be used again. You do this to help the environment and reduce waste.

n. the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. Often used in environmental contexts to describe the systematic recovery of resources from discarded products.


SIMPLE

Please put your empty plastic bottles in the recycling.

CONTEXTUAL

The city improved its recycling program by providing every household with a separate bin for paper and cardboard.

COMPLEX

While industrial recycling significantly reduces the demand for raw materials, the energy required for processing certain plastics remains a subject of environmental debate.

Synonyms
Usage

Typically used as an uncountable noun to describe the general process; can occasionally be used as a modifier before another noun.

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