Recyclables are the actual things — bottles, paper, cans, and the rest — that can go into recycling rather than ordinary rubbish. The word is almost always plural in real use: people sort their recyclables, collect recyclables, put out the recyclables. You rarely hear a recyclable in casual speech, though it exists. It is a practical city-and-building word, the kind you meet on bin lids and in notices. It names the stuff itself, not the quality. Though actually, households often argue about what belongs: greasy pizza boxes or dirty containers may be recyclable in theory and still not welcome as recyclables in your building's bin.