recycling

[ rē-sīklĭng ]

See synonyms for recycling on Thesaurus.com
  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.

Words Nearby recycling

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

How to use recycling in a sentence

  • He told them about Dunnan's heavy purchases of air-and-water recycling equipment and carniculture and hydroponic material.

    Space Viking | Henry Beam Piper
  • There was also trouble with the air-and-water recycling system.

    The Cosmic Computer | Henry Beam Piper