Which term describes the process where materials are reused or repurposed to minimize waste?

The term that best describes the process where materials are reused or repurposed to minimize waste is recycling. Recycling involves the collection and processing of materials that would typically be discarded as waste and transforming them into new products. This process not only conserves resources and reduces landfill waste but also minimizes the environmental impact associated with producing new materials from virgin resources.

While reducing pertains to lessening consumption to prevent waste, reusing specifically refers to using an item again for its original purpose without substantial alteration. Repurposing, on the other hand, involves changing the original intended use of an item to serve a new purpose. Unlike these terms, recycling specifically encompasses the broader, systematic approach of reclaiming materials to create new products, making it key to sustainable waste management practices.