Recycling is the process of turning materials that would otherwise be discarded – such as paper, plastic, wood, glass, and fabric – into new useable products.  In essence, it is the action of converting waste into reusable materials.

The recyclability of a material depends on its ability to acquire the value it had in its original state.  The process involves breaking down waste materials into their base components, which are then used to make new and different products.  During the transformation, the resource not only becomes sustainable but is imbued with new value.

For example, recycling paper involves shredding it into pulp, and then using the pulp to make new paper products.  Recycling plastic water bottles entails melting the plastic down to make such new products as toothbrushes, dinnerware, yoga mats, and grocery bags.  Clothing, textiles, and fabrics can be transformed into quilts, pet beds, cushions, handbags, hair bows, ties, and other articles of clothing.  Old pieces of wood can be resized and converted into cutting boards.

Thus, recycling breaks down existing materials into a raw form and then transforms them into products with renewed value.

Upcycling, also known as “creative reuse”, entails repurposing an unwanted item into a new product without breaking it down into a raw material (as in recycling).  Upcycling is taking something that is old or worn out and creating a new version of the item.  For example, taking an old, rusted patio furniture set and transforming it into a new funky bistro set through the use of bright paint.

Upcycling is the process of transforming a product that has lost value due to age or wear and updating it.  Thereby instilling new worth to the improved or updated version.

Upcycling aims to enhance the value of an existing item by repurposing its function.  For example, using a chipped teacup as a vessel for a scented candle, making earrings from an old charm bracelet, or updating a rusted file cabinet with new paint and handles are ways to upcycle existing items without converting them into raw materials.  Essentially, upcycling is a type of regenerative design method where the end product results in a cleaner, healthier, and better valued item than the original worn product. 

The range of items that can be upcycled are endless.  From the smallest teacup to the largest armoire dresser, you can pretty much upcycle anything that has lost its original value and/or purpose.

Refurbishing is the process of renewing or restoring an item to a useable condition or appearance.  In refurbishing, the item being restored has not outgrown its original purpose.  It may simply be outdated.

For the most part, refurbished items tend to be products that have been returned by the consumer to the factory because of a defect.  The manufacturer then repairs or restores the item to like-new condition by replacing the defective part, ensuring that the device performs as advertised, and then reselling the item as "refurbished".

The most popular products that undergo the refurbishing process are electronics and appliances.  From laptops, tablets, televisions, and mobile phones to food processors and even electric screwdrivers, refurbished electronics have undergone the process of data wiping, cleaning, and parts replacement.  Their reliability, battery performance, network connection, screen visibility, and display aesthetic have been cleared of defects and then sold at lower prices than similar items arriving fresh from the factory.

Because electronic devices are not biodegradable, tossing them into waste landfills becomes a pressing environmental concern as they create greenhouse gases.  Therefore, purchasing a refurbished product not only means that you can save money, but you have kept a device from ending up in a growing mountain of garbage that pollutes the environment.  Thereby harming humans and wildlife ecology.