recyclable

American  

[ree-sahyk-luh-buhl] / riˈsaɪk lə bəl /

adjective

1. able to be recycled, often specifically through a public collection service.

---

Explanation

Don’t chuck anything recyclable because it can be used again. Glass bottles and paper are recyclable. Styrofoam and unicorns are not. Recycling happens when things like old paper, plastic food containers, and metal cans are turned into something new. Recyclable paper, for example, might find a new life as a cardboard box, and recyclable soda bottles might be transformed into plastic benches and tables. Not everything is recyclable, and people who care about reducing consumption and pollution will often make sure they're buying food and other goods in recyclable containers.

Example Sentences

"The concept is reusable and recyclable," said Han Nguyen, a doctoral student in the Han Group and lead author of the study.

From Science Daily • May 15, 2026

Wish-cycling is when consumers dump everything into a single-stream recycling bin, hoping it’s recyclable, even when it isn’t.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

They say the bill would gut consumer trust and make it harder for people to know whether the products they are dealing with are truly recyclable, compostable or reusable.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 17, 2026

Solar panels are mostly recyclable, made of glass, aluminium, silver, and polymers - but trace toxic metals like lead and cadmium can pollute soil and water if mishandled.

From BBC • Dec. 25, 2025

Some of the lines are silly—about how he hogged the pepperoni pizza at our birthday party, put an obviously recyclable cup in the trash, and often leaves his shoelaces untied.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison