Materials that have been previously processed and are reused to manufacture the same or different product Pre-consumer recycling includes the reuse of material that has been generated within the manufacturing process Deformed plastic parts, for instance, can be ground and reinjected to produce an acceptable product Post-consumer recycling is the reuse of products, or their constituent materials, that have already been used and discarded by the consumer This type of recycling is preferable, as the material may otherwise be incinerated and landfilled
Paper which contains postconsumer fiber When paper has been printed and used by consumers before recycling, it's said to be made with postconsumer waste The current minimums to be considered recycled are: Uncoated paper: 20% postconsumer fiber Coated paper: 10% postconsumer fiber
Using water or other materials more than once before returning it to the natural environment, wastes that are used for a beneficial purpose or made into new product rather than being landfilled or burned