The term recycling is defined as "any recovery operation that processes waste into articles, materials or substances either for its original purpose or for other purposes. It includes the processing of organic materials, but not the energetic utilization and processing to materials intended for use as fuel or for backfilling.
Among the best-known recyclable products are glass, paper, plastic, tinplate and electrical appliances, as well as organic and green waste. By using these secondary raw materials, natural resources are conserved, making a major contribution to environmental protection.
Mechanical-biological treatment:

In the thermal utilization - or waste incineration - waste is heated to over 1000 ° C for the purpose of volume reduction of the waste using the energy contained and along with the compaction of the remaining amount for further recovery. Since 01.06.2005 landfilling of non-pretreated waste is prohibited in Germany. Domestic waste may only be disposed of in the form of slag after it has been incinerated.