You, an ESL learner, will often hear the topic of “recycling habits” come up in conversations about the environment, city rules, or even daily routines. Understanding how to talk about recycling in English will help you feel more prepared when chatting with neighbors, coworkers, or teachers about eco-friendly living. Today’s vocabulary will help you sound more confident and natural when talking about this topic. Let’s jump right in!

5 Vocabulary Words

1. Recycle (Verb): To process used materials so they can be used again instead of being thrown away.

   • Example Sentences:

     1. We try to recycle paper, plastic, and metal at home.

     2. Many cities offer special bins to help people recycle easily.

     3. She learned how to recycle properly at school.

2. Waste (Noun): Unwanted or unusable materials that are thrown away.

   • Example Sentences:

     1. We’re trying to reduce food waste by planning our meals.

     2. Too much waste can harm the environment.

     3. The factory produces less waste now thanks to new technology.

3. Sustainable (Adjective): Using methods that do not harm the environment so something can continue over time.

   • Example Sentences:

     1. Using cloth bags instead of plastic ones is a more sustainable choice.

     2. They started a sustainable garden in their backyard.

     3. A sustainable lifestyle means thinking about how your actions affect the planet.

4. Sort (Verb): To separate things into different groups or categories.

   • Example Sentences:

     1. Please sort your trash into recyclables and non-recyclables.

     2. I always sort bottles, cans, and paper before throwing them away.

     3. You need to sort the items into the right bins at this center.

5. Compost (Verb/Noun): To turn food or plant waste into nutrient-rich soil (verb), or the material produced by this process (noun).

   • Example Sentences:

     1. We compost fruit peels and coffee grounds instead of throwing them away.

     2. The compost pile in the backyard helps our garden grow.

     3. She taught her kids how to compost leftover food.

At our house, we try to recycle as much as we can to reduce waste. We sort everything: glass, paper, and plastic into different bins every week. We also compost fruit scraps and coffee grounds, which helps our garden grow stronger. These habits make our lifestyle more sustainable, and they’re easy to keep up once you get used to them.