Which term describes a practice used by industry to reduce the quality of waste?

• A. Recycling
• B. Filtration
• C. Aeration
• D. Coagulation

Answer: (A)

Recycling is a practice where industry reprocesses waste so it can be used again as a raw material or energy source, reducing the amount of waste that must be disposed of and changing the waste stream into a product rather than leaving it as waste. In wastewater and environmental contexts, the aim of recycling is to reclaim materials and loop them back into production, thereby lowering the waste burden. The other processes—filtration, aeration, and coagulation—are treatment steps that improve the quality of water by removing solids or pollutants, not by turning waste into a reusable material.