recycling
gb/ɹisˈaɪklɪŋ/ us/ɹisˈaɪklɪŋ/
A2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
process
1
processing waste for reuse
the activity of turning things like paper, glass, plastic, and metal into things that can be used again
Usage pattern:
recycling of [materials]
Common mistake:
Use the noun recycling for the activity, but use recycle as the verb: “We recycle paper,” not “We recycling paper.”
Synonyms
reprocessing (more technical; emphasizes treating materials so they can be used again)
|
reuse (broader; can mean using something again without industrial processing)
Antonyms
disposal (getting rid of waste rather than turning it into reusable material)
|
landfilling (putting waste in a landfill instead of recycling it)
Collocations
household recycling
|plastic recycling
|paper recycling
|glass recycling
|recycling program
|recycling facility
|recycling center
|recycling collection
|increase recycling
|promote recycling
Themes
environment
|waste
|daily_life
|sustainability
Examples
- The city is trying to increase recycling by providing bigger bins to residents.
- Recycling of glass and aluminum saves energy and reduces waste.
- Many companies now use packaging that is easier to sort for recycling.
Learner examples
- Recycling helps protect the environment.
- Our apartment building has recycling for paper and plastic.
Noun
A2
entity
2
recyclable waste items
things such as bottles, cans, and paper that you put in a special bin to be recycled
Usage pattern:
the recycling
Common mistake:
Recycling is usually uncountable in this meaning. Say “take out the recycling,” not “take out the recyclings.”
Synonyms
recyclables (more specific; refers to items that can be recycled)
|
recyclable waste (clearer but less conversational)
Antonyms
trash (waste that is thrown away rather than recycled)
|
garbage (general waste, especially waste not separated for recycling)
Collocations
take out the recycling
|sort the recycling
|put out the recycling
|recycling bin
|recycling bag
|recycling box
|mixed recycling
|household recycling
Themes
daily_life
|waste
|home
|environment
Examples
- Can you take the recycling out before you leave?
- Please rinse the cans before you put them in the recycling.
- The recycling is collected every Wednesday morning.
Learner examples
- I put the bottles in the recycling.
- The recycling bin is full.
Noun
B2
process
3
using something again
using an old thing or idea again instead of creating something new
Usage pattern:
the recycling of [something]
Common mistake:
This meaning can sound critical when it refers to ideas, jokes, or stories, because it may suggest a lack of originality.
Synonyms
reuse (neutral and broad; does not imply lack of originality)
|
reworking (suggests changing or adapting something before using it again)
|
repurposing (suggests using something again for a different purpose)
Antonyms
originality (creating something new instead of using old material again)
|
innovation (developing new ideas or methods rather than repeating old ones)
Collocations
recycling old ideas
|recycling old jokes
|recycling material
|recycling arguments
|creative recycling
|constant recycling
|endless recycling
Themes
communication
|creativity
|media
|work
Examples
- The film was criticized for the recycling of old action-movie clichés.
- His speech contained too much recycling of arguments we had heard before.
- The artist’s work often involves the creative recycling of everyday objects.
Learner examples
- The show keeps recycling the same jokes.
- This is not a new idea; it is recycling.
Grammar
Dictionary form
recycling
IPA
GB/ɹisˈaɪklɪŋ/
US/ɹisˈaɪklɪŋ/
Syllables & stress
re - cyc - ling (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cyc)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: recycling
- Plural: recycling, recyclings
Expressions
curbside recycling
1/kˈɚbsˌaɪd ɹisˈaɪklɪŋ/
fixed phrase
home recycling collection
recycling that is picked up from outside your home
Examples
- The city introduced curbside recycling for glass and paper.
- Curbside recycling is collected every other week in our neighborhood.
- Residents can request a larger bin for curbside recycling.
recycling bin
1/ɹisˈaɪklɪŋ bˈɪn/
fixed phrase
container for recyclable items
A special container where you put paper, bottles, cans, and other things that will be recycled.
Examples
- Please put your empty bottles in the blue recycling bin.
- We keep a small recycling bin next to the trash can in the kitchen.
recycling bin
1/ɹisˈaɪklɪŋ bˈɪn/
fixed phrase
container for recyclables
a bin for paper, bottles, cans, and other things that can be recycled
Examples
- Please put empty bottles in the recycling bin.
- The office has a recycling bin next to every printer.
- Our recycling bin is collected on Fridays.
recycling center
1/ɹisˈaɪklɪŋ sˈɛntɚ/
fixed phrase
place where recycling is done
A place where people or trucks take paper, glass, metal, and plastic so they can be recycled.
Examples
- I took all our old electronics to the local recycling center.
- The city opened a new recycling center on the edge of town.
recycling center
1/ɹisˈaɪklɪŋ sˈɛntɚ/
fixed phrase
place for recyclable waste
a place where you take things like old electronics, bottles, or cardboard so they can be recycled
Examples
- We took the old computer to the recycling center.
- The local recycling center accepts cardboard, glass, and batteries.
- A new recycling center opened outside town last year.
recycling collection
1/ɹisˈaɪklɪŋ kəlˈɛkʃən/
fixed phrase
pickup of recyclables
the time when workers collect recycling from homes or businesses
Examples
- Recycling collection was delayed because of the holiday.
- Put your bin out tonight for tomorrow’s recycling collection.
- The council changed the recycling collection schedule.
recycling plant
1/ɹisˈaɪklɪŋ plˈænt/
fixed phrase
facility processing recyclables
a factory-like place where recyclable materials are cleaned, sorted, or processed for reuse
Examples
- The plastic is sent to a recycling plant outside the city.
- A fire at the recycling plant disrupted collections for several days.
- The company plans to build a recycling plant for used batteries.
recycling program
1/ɹisˈaɪklɪŋ pɹˈoʊɡɹˌæm/
fixed phrase
organized recycling system
a plan that helps people collect and recycle waste in an organized way
Examples
- The school started a recycling program for paper and plastic bottles.
- Our company’s recycling program has reduced office waste by half.
- Local officials want to expand the recycling program to include food containers.
recycling rate
1/ɹisˈaɪklɪŋ ɹˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
percentage recycled
the percentage of waste that is recycled
Examples
- The city’s recycling rate has risen to 48 percent.
- Officials set a target to improve the national recycling rate.
- Food contamination can lower the recycling rate for household waste.
recycling symbol
1/ɹisˈaɪklɪŋ sˈɪmbəl/
fixed phrase
symbol showing recyclability
the three-arrow sign that shows something may be recyclable or made from recycled material
Examples
- Look for the recycling symbol on the bottom of the container.
- The package has a recycling symbol, but our city does not accept that type of plastic.
- Many shoppers check for the recycling symbol before buying products.