Definition: Recycling

Category: Environment

Any recovery operation by which waste materials are reprocessed into products, materials or substances whether for the original or other purposes. It includes the reprocessing of organic material but does not include energy recovery and the reprocessing into materials that are to be used as fuels or for backfilling operations (Waste Framework Directive, 2008/98/EC).

A resource recovery method involving the collection and treatment of a waste product for use as raw material in the manufacture of the same or a similar product. The European Union waste strategy distinguishes between: reuse meant as a material reuse without any structural changes in materials; recycling meant as a material recycling only and with a reference to structural changes in products; and recovery meant as an energy recovery only (The Environmental Goods and Services Sector). http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:312:0003:0030:EN:PDF Eurostat, "Municipal waste", General methodological informationEurostat, The Environmental Goods and Services Sector (2009 Edition), Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg, 2009