| Recycling is the reprocessing of materials | | | | same purpose, and in many cases this theory |
| that would otherwise become waste in order to | | | | holds true, most notably in the recycling of |
| make them into new products. This is in | | | | metals and glass. |
| contrast with reuse: collecting waste such as | | | | |
| food containers to be cleaned, refilled and | | | | Since less raw material is required, |
| resold. Recycling prevents waste being | | | | recycling creates further benefits for |
| landfilled or incinerated, reduces the | | | | materials where cost of the initial |
| consumption of new raw materials, and is | | | | extraction or production is higheither |
| advocated by supporters to require less | | | | economically, socially or environmentally. |
| energy than virgin production Commonly | | | | The recycling of aluminium, for example, |
| recycled materials include glass, paper, | | | | saves 95% of the CO2 emissionsan |
| aluminium, asphalt, steel, textiles and | | | | environmentally harmful greenhouse |
| plastic. These materials can be derived | | | | gascompared to refining new metal. |
| either from pre-consumer waste (materials | | | | |
| used in manufacturing) or post-consumer waste | | | | Concerns about limited resources such as raw |
| (materials discarded by the consumer). | | | | materials and land space for disposal of |
| Recycling is a key concept of modern waste | | | | waste have increased the importance of |
| management and is the third component of the | | | | recycling. However maximum environmental |
| waste hierarchy. To be recycled waste has to | | | | benefit is gained by reducing the amount of |
| be sorted and separated. Waste sorting can be | | | | waste produced, and reusing items in their |
| done by the waste producer, at kerbside | | | | current form, for example refilling bottles. |
| collection sites, or at a materials recovery | | | | All recycling techniques consume energy, for |
| facility. In everyday speech the word | | | | transportation and processing, and some also |
| recycling often refers to the practice of | | | | use considerable amounts of water. Both of |
| waste sorting done by consumers. | | | | these resources have an environmental impact |
| | | | which is why campaigners use the slogan |
| One of the main benefits of recycling comes | | | | Reduce, Reuse, Recycle to indicate the |
| from reducing the amount of new material | | | | preferred order for waste management in the |
| required. In theory, recycling allows a | | | | waste hierarchy. |
| material to be continually reused for the | | | | |