recyclen

Recyclen is the act of turning used materials into new products to prevent waste and conserve resources. The term is the German verb for "to recycle" and appears in German-language contexts; in English, the standard form is "to recycle." In practice, recycling encompasses a sequence of activities aimed at recovering materials from post-consumer or post-industrial waste and reintroducing them into manufacturing cycles.

The typical recycling process includes collection, sorting, cleaning, processing into a form suitable for manufacturing, and remanufacture into new products. Materials commonly recycled include paper and cardboard, glass, metals (such as aluminum and steel), plastics, and certain electronics. Recycling can be mechanical (shredding, melting, remolding) or, in some cases, chemical (breaking down polymers to basic chemicals).

Benefits include reduced demand for virgin resources, energy savings, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and diversion of waste from landfills. However, recycling faces challenges such as contamination of streams, fluctuating market demand and prices for recycled materials, the energy intensity of some processes, and the need for separate collection and advanced sorting infrastructure. Economic feasibility often depends on local policy and market conditions.

Policy frameworks and programs, including curbside collection, bottle deposit schemes, and extended producer responsibility, influence recycling performance. International trade in recyclables, standards for recycled-content products, and consumer participation also affect outcomes. Advances in sorting technologies, mechanical and chemical recycling methods, and design for recyclability are shaping the evolution of recycling and its role in a circular economy.