Glossary
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Definition
Waste recycling
Process that involves re-using all or part of the materials making up a product at the end of its life to make new products.
Recycling involves re-using all or part of an item of waste to make new products. It is one method of waste reclamation. In theory the majority of materials are recyclable but for economic reasons they are not all recycled. That is why paper, aluminium, steel, glass and some plastics are recycled but not yoghurt pots for example.
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In France around 8% of household waste is recycled. Recycling results in savings in raw materials and energy: every sheet of paper recycled saves 1 litre of water and 2.5 Wh of electricity in addition to 15 g of wood; for one tonne of recycled steel, 1 tonne of iron ore is saved, etc. For example, in 2004 the raw material used by France's paper and cardboard manufacturers was 56% recycled paper. Today, to increase the rate of recovery of raw materials, manufacturers are encouraged to anticipate the impact of their products on the environment at the design stage (ecodesign). In 2006 in France a decree was passed stating that 80% of the weight of a motor vehicle must be re-usable or recyclable.
