unrecyclable
adjective
un·re·cy·cla·ble
ˌən-(ˌ)rē-ˈsī-k(ə-)lə-bəl 
: unable to be recycled : not recyclable
unrecyclable waste
unrecyclable plastics
Examples of unrecyclable in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Residents have a habit of coming up with new, creative initiatives to push stewardship education, like Precious Plastics, which gives unrecyclable plastic a second life, and even created an art piece out of recycled materials named Isak Heartstone.
—
Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 28 May 2023
The goal would be to significantly reduce the production of unrecyclable plastics and take them out of products and material value chains.
—The Arizona Republic, 3 May 2023
Lawmakers heard testimony for the bill on Monday evening, which also includes converting many homes with unrecyclable septic tanks for wastewater to the county’s recyclable sewage system in the coming decades.
—Gabe Stern, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Mar. 2023
In both cases, be sure to remove the lid or any pumps, which are often made of a different material or unrecyclable combinations of materials.
—Neeti Mehra, Treehugger, 7 Feb. 2023
Single stream is convenient and may encourage broader participation, but contamination can render materials unrecyclable.
—Nara Schoenberg, Chicago Tribune, 6 Oct. 2022
While recycling cotton-poly blends would take a big bite out of the apparel industry’s overall waste problem, the materials in more technical apparel are, as of yet, unrecyclable.
—Laura Onstot, Outside Online, 6 Apr. 2021
The ocean protection agency suggested that California move this year to prohibit the sale and distribution of cigarette filters, electronic cigarettes, plastic cigar tips, and unrecyclable tobacco product packaging.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2022
The change did also nudge many US cities to improve their recycling infrastructure to accept previously unrecyclable goods, like pizza boxes, but San Francisco leads the way.
—Nathan Mattise, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2021
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Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 28 May 2023
The goal would be to significantly reduce the production of unrecyclable plastics and take them out of products and material value chains.
—The Arizona Republic, 3 May 2023
Lawmakers heard testimony for the bill on Monday evening, which also includes converting many homes with unrecyclable septic tanks for wastewater to the county’s recyclable sewage system in the coming decades.
—Gabe Stern, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Mar. 2023
In both cases, be sure to remove the lid or any pumps, which are often made of a different material or unrecyclable combinations of materials.
—Neeti Mehra, Treehugger, 7 Feb. 2023
Single stream is convenient and may encourage broader participation, but contamination can render materials unrecyclable.
—Nara Schoenberg, Chicago Tribune, 6 Oct. 2022
While recycling cotton-poly blends would take a big bite out of the apparel industry’s overall waste problem, the materials in more technical apparel are, as of yet, unrecyclable.
—Laura Onstot, Outside Online, 6 Apr. 2021
The ocean protection agency suggested that California move this year to prohibit the sale and distribution of cigarette filters, electronic cigarettes, plastic cigar tips, and unrecyclable tobacco product packaging.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2022
The change did also nudge many US cities to improve their recycling infrastructure to accept previously unrecyclable goods, like pizza boxes, but San Francisco leads the way.
—Nathan Mattise, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2021
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unrecyclable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1960, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near unrecyclable
Cite this Entry
“Unrecyclable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unrecyclable. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.
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