to use / recycle
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to recycle
To make something that already exists, such as waste or leftovers, usable for a new purpose or process it further.
In dieser Fabrik wird alter Kunststoff gesammelt und zu neuen Produkten verwertet.
In this factory, old plastic is collected and recycled into new products.
The word contains the stem “Wert” (value). “Verwerten” (to use/recycle) means to draw value from something or make something valuable out of it, especially from things that would otherwise remain unused.
Aus den alten Äpfeln können wir noch Saft machen und sie so verwerten.
We can still make juice from the old apples and use them that way.
The prefix “ver-” is inseparable. It remains firmly attached to the verb in all sentence forms and is not placed at the end of the sentence.
Die Firma hat die Daten ihrer Studie erfolgreich verwertet.
The company successfully used the data from its study.
The object of the verb shows the meaning: if it is physical materials such as “Abfall” (waste) or “Reste” (leftovers), it is about recycling. If it is abstract things such as “Ideen” (ideas) or “Rechte” (rights), it is about commercial use.
Wir verwerten unser Altglas, um die Umwelt zu schonen.
We recycle our used glass to protect the environment.
In the context of recycling, “verwerten” (to recycle) is often combined with materials: Altpapier verwerten (to recycle waste paper), Essensreste verwerten (to use up food leftovers), Bauschutt verwerten (to recycle construction rubble), or Rohstoffe verwerten (to recycle raw materials).
Aus den Essensresten der Kantine wird Biogas erzeugt und so Energie verwertet.
Biogas is produced from the cafeteria's food leftovers, and energy is recycled in this way.
to use / benefit
'nutzen' and 'verwerten' can both mean that you gain an advantage from something. 'nutzen' is more general and fits almost anything you use: time, technology, offers, or information. 'verwerten' is more specific when something already available is processed further or used in a meaningful way, for example leftovers, material, data, or ideas. It can also mean that you use information or rights for your own advantage. So 'verwerten' often sounds more like 'making something out of it'.
Ich verwerte die Notizen aus dem Gespräch, weil sie für den Bericht wichtig sind.
I use the notes from the conversation because they are important for the report.
Wegen der Baustelle nutzt Tom morgen lieber die U-Bahn.
Because of the construction work, Tom would rather use the subway tomorrow.