| | '''Recycling''' is the act of re-processing old [[bottle]]s, [[can]]s, [[paper]]s or [[plastic]]s instead simply throwing them away. (Other forms of such environmental responsibility are reusing and reducing, as shown in the common slogan "reduce, reuse, recycle.") Most western countries have recycling programs sponsored by local councils. Recycling is picked up from the curb, like standard [[garbage]] pick-up, and taken to a [[recycling plant]] where it is sorted (plastic, paper etc) and smelted down to be remade. It is estimated that in the [[United States]] there are 8550 curbside recycling programs.<ref>http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/United_States_Recycling_Statistics</ref> In certain countries in [[Europe]], such as [[Germany]], there are heavy fines for people who fail to recycle regularly. [[San Francisco]] also mandates extensive recycling on its residents (see [[San Francisco values]]). | | '''Recycling''' is the act of re-processing old [[bottle]]s, [[can]]s, [[paper]]s or [[plastic]]s instead simply throwing them away. (Other forms of such environmental responsibility are reusing and reducing, as shown in the common slogan "reduce, reuse, recycle.") Most western countries have recycling programs sponsored by local councils. Recycling is picked up from the curb, like standard [[garbage]] pick-up, and taken to a [[recycling plant]] where it is sorted (plastic, paper etc) and smelted down to be remade. It is estimated that in the [[United States]] there are 8550 curbside recycling programs.<ref>http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/United_States_Recycling_Statistics</ref> In certain countries in [[Europe]], such as [[Germany]], there are heavy fines for people who fail to recycle regularly. [[San Francisco]] also mandates extensive recycling on its residents (see [[San Francisco values]]). |