återvinna

Återvinna is a Swedish verb meaning to recycle or recover materials from used products to manufacture new ones. The verb is formed from åter- (again, back) and vinna (to win/obtain). The related noun is återvinning, the process or act of recycling.

In practice, återvinning refers to material recycling as part of the circular economy, distinct from återbruk (reuse without significant processing) and energiåtervinning (energy recovery, typically incineration with energy capture).

Common recyclable streams include paper and cardboard, glass, metal, and plastic packaging, as well as electronics and batteries. In Sweden and other Nordic countries, households typically sort waste at source into several streams and rely on municipal recycling stations and programs to collect and process materials.

Effectiveness depends on source separation, contamination control, and markets for recycled material. Not all waste is recyclable; some plastics or contaminated materials are downcycled or combusted for energy. Recycling reduces raw material use and emissions but is most effective when combined with reduction and reuse.

Policy context: European and Swedish waste legislation promotes återvinning as part of the waste hierarchy, with targets for recycling rates and producer responsibility for packaging. Sweden has a long-standing system for waste collection and recycling, contributing to high recovery rates and a transition toward a more circular economy.