recikliranja

Recikliranje, or recycling, is the process of converting waste materials into new products to prevent waste and reduce the need for virgin resources. The recycling cycle generally includes waste generation, collection, sorting, processing, and remanufacturing into new products. Materials are often separated by type to improve quality and value.

Commonly recycled materials include paper and cardboard, glass, metals such as aluminum and steel, and certain plastics. Electronic waste, batteries, and textiles are increasingly recycled, though their processing can be more complex. Some materials are downcycled, meaning they are transformed into products of lower quality, while true recycling aims to preserve material properties for reuse in the same or similar products.

Effectiveness depends on contamination, economic feasibility, and infrastructure. The benefits include reduced landfill use, conservation of natural resources, energy savings, and lower emissions. Policy tools such as curbside collection, sorting facilities, and extended producer responsibility seek to improve recycling rates. Challenges include collection coverage, market demand for recycled material, and the environmental impact of recycling facilities themselves. In many regions, recycling is integrated into broader policies promoting a circular economy, waste prevention, and sustainable consumption.