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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web 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 That includes improving waste collection and recycling, redesigning products to eliminate packaging made from unrecyclable plastics, expanding refillables, and in some cases substituting other materials. Laura Parker, National Geographic, 6 Oct. 2020 Unfortunately, that means more unrecyclable refuse getting thrown in the recycling bin: items such as bubble wrap, cellophane, Christmas lights, ribbons, clothing, foam and electronics. Brian Chasnoff, ExpressNews.com, 29 Nov. 2019 Executives admit the new cup isn’t perfect — it’s still lined with plastic, rendering it unrecyclable by most standards — and the lid is still plastic as well. BostonGlobe.com, 15 Nov. 2019 Since then, Southeast Asia has seen a huge spike in waste shipments — much of it contaminated plastic that is unrecyclable — from developed countries. Hillary Leung, Time, 25 July 2019 Many toothbrushes are unrecyclable because the composite plastics most are now made of are difficult, if not impossible, to break apart efficiently. National Geographic, 14 June 2019 See More
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 That includes improving waste collection and recycling, redesigning products to eliminate packaging made from unrecyclable plastics, expanding refillables, and in some cases substituting other materials. Laura Parker, National Geographic, 6 Oct. 2020 Unfortunately, that means more unrecyclable refuse getting thrown in the recycling bin: items such as bubble wrap, cellophane, Christmas lights, ribbons, clothing, foam and electronics. Brian Chasnoff, ExpressNews.com, 29 Nov. 2019 Executives admit the new cup isn’t perfect — it’s still lined with plastic, rendering it unrecyclable by most standards — and the lid is still plastic as well. BostonGlobe.com, 15 Nov. 2019 Since then, Southeast Asia has seen a huge spike in waste shipments — much of it contaminated plastic that is unrecyclable — from developed countries. Hillary Leung, Time, 25 July 2019 Many toothbrushes are unrecyclable because the composite plastics most are now made of are difficult, if not impossible, to break apart efficiently. National Geographic, 14 June 2019 See More Word History
First Known Use
1960, in the meaning defined above
- nugget
- cottoned on
- cottoned out
- cottoned to
- cottoned to or on to
- cottonfish
- cottonier
- cottoniest
- cottoning
- cottoning (to or on to)
- cottoning (to)
- cottoning on
- cottoning to
- cottoning to or on to
- cottonize
- cottonless
- cottonmouth
- cottonmouth moccasin
- cottonmouth moccasins
- cottonmouths
- cottons
- cottons (to or on to)
- cottons (to)
- cottons on
- cottons to