Recycling processes involve collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be discarded as waste. Common recyclable materials include paper, plastic, glass, and metal. The first step is collection, where these items are gathered from homes, businesses, and recycling centers. After collection, the materials are sorted and cleaned to remove contaminants. Once sorted, the materials are processed into raw materials. For example, plastic is shredded and melted down, while glass is crushed and melted to form new products. Finally, these raw materials are used by manufacturers to create new items, reducing the need for virgin resources and minimizing environmental impact.