Definition of Recycling  What Is Recycling?  At its very core,
recycling is the process of using a material again rather than
throwing it away. Through the process of recycling, valuable
materials such as plastics, cardboard, paper, and metal are
processed into new products in order to keep them out of
landfills, reduce energy and water consumption, minimize
pollution, and save raw natural resources.  Though most of the
materials collected for recycling within the residential waste
stream are from packaging waste – such as plastic bottles,
aluminum cans, cardboard boxes, and so on – many other types of
waste can be recycled, including:    • Organics such as yard
waste and food scraps through composting systems   • Textiles
such as old clothes and waste from manufacturing   • Building
materials such as steel, concrete, roofing, wood, and drywall
• Chemicals from industry and residential waste  Recycling is a
great way to recover materials that would otherwise be lost to a
landfill, but there are even better