This topic summary covers Topic Summary: Recycling within Recycling for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Recycling in Using Resources for GCSE Chemistry with 20 exam-style questions and 14 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 20 of 20 in this topic. Use this topic summary to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 20 of 20
Practice
20 questions
Recall
14 flashcards
Topic Summary: Recycling
Key Terms
- Recycling: Converting waste into new materials — reduces raw material demand and energy use
- Landfill: Burying waste — produces methane and wastes resources
- Incineration: Burning waste — reduces volume, can generate electricity, but releases CO₂
- Waste hierarchy: Reduce → Reuse → Recycle → Energy recovery → Disposal
Must-Know Facts
- Reduce → Reuse → Recycle (in order of priority — Reduce is most important)
- Aluminium recycling: 95% energy saving; steel: 60%; paper: 40%; glass: 30%
- Recycling uses less energy but is NOT energy-free
- Only #1 PET and #2 HDPE plastics are widely recyclable
- Landfill produces methane — a potent greenhouse gas
- Contamination of recycling streams is a major practical challenge