Recikliranje

Recikliranje, or recycling, is the process of converting waste materials into new products to prevent waste, reduce resource consumption, and lower environmental impacts. It forms a core part of modern waste management and is linked to the broader concept of a circular economy. Recycling covers a range of materials and technologies, from mechanical reprocessing to chemical recovery and energy recovery in some cases, though energy recovery is distinct from true recycling.

The typical recycling process includes collection, sorting at material recovery facilities, cleaning, and processing into feedstock for manufacturing. Sorted streams are converted into raw inputs such as paper pulp, glass cullet, metal ingots, and plastic pellets, which are then used to produce new goods. The quality of recycled materials depends on purity, contamination, and the efficiency of the processing systems.

Common recyclable materials include paper and cardboard, glass, metals (aluminium and steel), and many plastics (such as PET and HDPE), plus organic waste that can be composted or processed in anaerobic digestion. Electronics and construction waste are increasingly diverted to recycling channels as well.

Benefits of recikliranje include reduced demand for virgin resources, lower energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, and less landfill volume. Challenges involve contamination of recyclable streams, fluctuating markets for recycled materials, high upfront infrastructure costs, and varying regulatory frameworks among regions.

Globally, recycling rates and policies differ. Many countries pursue source separation, standardized labeling, and extended producer responsibility to improve collection and processing. Ongoing research aims to improve sorting technologies, material recovery rates, and the end-use quality of recycled products.