What does recycling involve in the context of waste management?

Recycling in the context of waste management specifically refers to the process of taking used materials and processing them into new products. This involves several steps including the collection of materials, sorting, and then transforming them through various processes, such as shredding, melting, or reconstituting into new items. The primary goal of recycling is to reduce the need for raw materials, thus conserving natural resources, saving energy, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

By focusing on the creation of new products from existing ones, recycling not only helps in managing waste more effectively but also contributes to a circular economy, where resources are kept in use for as long as possible. This approach contrasts with simply disposing of materials or aiming to eliminate waste entirely, which doesn’t necessarily entail reusing materials to create new products. Minimizing consumption of new products also pertains to sustainability but does not capture the essence of recycling itself.