NETSCAPE NETCENTER spacer   Search  -  WebMail  -  My Netscape  -  Buddy Chat  -  Help  -  Download
Encyclopedia

recycling

recycling, the process of recovering and reusing waste products—from household use, manufacturing, agriculture, and business—and thereby reducing their burden on the environment. During World War I and World War II, shortages of essential materials led to collection drives for silk, rubber, and other commodities. In recent years the environmental benefits of recycling have become a major component of waste management programs.

Sections in this article:

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

More on recycling from Fact Monster:

  • Recycling Facts - Recycling facts for paper, steel, plastic, aluminum, and more.
  • The Three R's of the Environment - The Three R's of the Environment Every year, Americans throw away 50 billion food and drink ...
  • The Three R's of the Environment - The Three R's of the Environment Every year, Americans throw away 50 billion food and drink ...
  • RECYCLING - Many things we normally throw away can be recycled (used again), including paper, glass, metals, plastics, and BIODEGRADABLE waste such as vegetable p
  • A Look at the Recycling Process - A Look at the Recycling Process Did you ever wonder what happens to the objects that you toss into ...

See more Encyclopedia articles on: Environmental Studies
© 2000–2008 Pearson Education, publishing as Fact Monster