Recyclate

Recyclate is material recovered from waste and processed to be used as input in the manufacture of new products. It can originate from post-consumer waste, such as households and businesses, or post-industrial scrap generated during manufacturing. Recyclate is distinguished from virgin materials by its origin in recycled streams and its subsequent processing to a form suitable for production.

Common recyclates include paper and cardboard; glass cullet; metals such as aluminum and steel; and plastics such as PET, HDPE, and other resin types after sorting and cleaning. Some organic recyclates are recovered through composting or anaerobic digestion for soil amendments or energy recovery. The term is also used to describe the end product of recycling processes, rather than just the recyclable potential of a material.

The production of recyclate involves collection, sorting by material type, contaminants removal, washing, and reprocessing. Plastics may be shredded, melted, and pelletized; metals are melted or refined; glass is crushed and cleaned. The quality and purity of recyclate determine its suitability for specific applications. In some cases, recyclates must be blended with virgin materials or subjected to additives to meet performance standards.

Uses and limitations vary by material. Recyclate can replace virgin inputs in the manufacture of new goods, reducing resource extraction and energy use. However, it may be downcycled into lower-grade products if contamination or polymer degradation limits its applicability. Economic and regulatory factors influence the availability and competitiveness of recyclates in the market.