Recycling

Recycling is when we collect used materials like paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum cans, and then process them back into raw materials to make new products.

It helps reduce pollution and saves raw materials because we can reuse what we already have instead of extracting and processing new resources. This keeps valuable materials from ending up in landfills or incinerators. The process starts with separating recyclable waste, then cleaning and processing the materials—by shredding, melting, or other methods—until they become raw materials that can be used to create new products.

Recycling and upcycling are related, but they work differently. Recycling breaks materials down to their basic components (think of turning old aluminum cans into new ones), while upcycling directly transforms items into something new without breaking them down (like turning a water bottle into a lamp). Recycling usually needs more energy, but both practices are valuable ways to manage waste sustainably and reduce our environmental impact.