Final answer:
The third step in the recycling loop is the purchase and use of new goods made from recycled materials by consumers, which completes the cycle and benefits the environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The recycling loop consists of three basic steps. The third step in the recycling loop, following the collection and processing of goods and the manufacturing of new goods from those materials, is the purchase and use of these newly manufactured goods by consumers. At this stage, when consumers choose products made from recycled materials, they complete the cycle, ensuring that the effort put into recycling translates into a reduction in the need for new raw materials and energy consumption, which in turn benefits the environment.
The things that are commonly recycled include a variety of materials such as plastics, metals, glass, and paper. Textile-to-textile recycling and plastic recycling are good examples of how specific materials are reprocessed into useful products. Recycled plastics, for example, can be turned into items like furniture, carpets, and containers, while recycled textiles can become new fabrics.
However, recycling is only effective and profitable when there is a market for the regenerated material. It is also important to note that the recycling process, while beneficial, requires energy for collection, transportation, and processing. The more local the recycling process can be, the more environmentally friendly it becomes, as it reduces the need for long-distance shipping which contributes to pollution.