recycling

American  

[ree-sahyk-ling] / riˈsaɪk lɪŋ /

noun

plural

recyclings

1. the collection and processing of used or waste materials so as to make them suitable for reuse, often through a publicly administered program.

2. the act or practice of reusing or adapting something for a different purpose without altering its essential form or nature.

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adjective

1. relating to or engaging in the collection and processing of used or waste materials so as to make them suitable for reuse, or the practice of reusing or adapting things for a different purpose.

recycling Scientific  

/ rē-sī′klĭng /

1. The collection and often reprocessing of discarded materials for reuse. Recycled materials include those used in manufacturing processes and those used in consumer products. The recycled material is often degraded somewhat by use or processing and therefore must be converted to another purpose. For example, the processing of recycled newspaper and other paper wastes usually shortens their fibers, and the material cannot be used to make high-grade paper. Instead, it can be reprocessed to make cardboard or insulation. Recycling helps reduce pollution, prolong the usefulness of landfills, and conserve natural resources.

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Other Word Forms

• anti-recycling adjective
• nonrecycling adjective
• post-recycling adjective
• pro-recycling adjective
• self-recycling adjective

Example Sentences

Most agreed the state should fast-track new reservoirs, raise some existing dams and increase water recycling to boost supply.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

“We cannot speak about an apocalypse,” Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport wrote on Tuesday night, recycling a word used for the failure of 2018.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Their findings show that these drugs can accumulate inside lysosomes, small structures within cells that act as "recycling centers."

From Science Daily • Mar. 27, 2026

The company is also testing a method to cut the amount of water in the recycling process, and aims to team up with 20 municipalities by 2035 to recycle their diapers.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

Rafik had joined an ecology club at his school—they would work with garbage and recycling.

From "Habibi" by Naomi Shihab Nye