When combined, `废物 (fèiwù)` means “waste material” or “trash.” `利用 (lìyòng)` means “to make use of” or “to utilize.” Together, 废物利用 (fèiwù lìyòng) forms a direct and logical phrase: “to make use of waste materials.”
The concept of 废物利用 is deeply connected to the traditional Chinese value of 节约 (jiéyuē), or frugality. For centuries, living through periods of scarcity taught people to never waste anything. This mindset is passed down through generations, where an old item isn't just “trash” but a potential resource for something else. A grandmother saving cooking water for her plants is a small, everyday act of 废物利用. In the West, “recycling” is often viewed as a relatively modern, large-scale, and system-driven environmental duty (e.g., sorting items into municipal bins). While China also has these systems, 废物利用 carries a stronger, more personal connotation of resourcefulness and ingenuity. It's less about following a rule and more about a practical virtue. It’s the difference between putting a plastic bottle in a blue bin versus cutting that same bottle in half to create a planter. The former is systemic recycling; the latter is personal 废物利用. In recent years, the term has been elevated from a household virtue to a national policy. As China tackles environmental challenges, 废物利用 has become a cornerstone of its “circular economy” (循环经济) and sustainable development goals, appearing in government slogans, news reports, and educational campaigns.
废物利用 is a versatile term used in various contexts, from formal to informal.