What method allows Americans to "Reuse" up to 25% of their discarded waste?

The method that allows Americans to "Reuse" up to 25% of their discarded waste is recycling. Recycling involves the collection and processing of materials such as paper, glass, metals, and plastics, converting them into raw materials that can be manufactured into new products. By doing this, recycling plays a crucial role in reducing the volume of waste sent to landfills and minimizing the depletion of natural resources.

Recycling not only conserves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions but also promotes a circular economy where products are reused and repurposed instead of being disposed of as waste. In the context of the question, recycling enables a significant portion of waste to be transformed into new materials rather than being discarded, thus contributing to sustainability efforts and effective waste management practices.

In contrast, methods like incineration and waste-to-energy primarily focus on the disposal and energy recovery aspects, while composting is specific to organic materials, providing an alternative method of waste management for biodegradable items but not necessarily applicable to the broader category of discarded waste.