A cooperativa recicla o metal e reutiliza o plástico.

These are definite articles in Portuguese:

• a = the for a singular feminine noun
• o = the for a singular masculine noun

So:

• a cooperativa = the cooperative
• o metal = the metal
• o plástico = the plastic

Portuguese uses articles more often than English, especially with general categories and materials.

Because Portuguese nouns have grammatical gender:

• cooperativa is feminine, so it takes a
• metal is masculine, so it takes o
• plástico is masculine, so it takes o

This gender is a grammar feature, not necessarily a comment on real-world sex or gender.

They are both in the present indicative, third person singular.

Infinitives:

• reciclar = to recycle
• reutilizar = to reuse

Conjugation here:

• ela recicla = she/it recycles
• ela reutiliza = she/it reuses

Since a cooperativa is singular, the verbs are singular too.

Because the same subject, a cooperativa, applies to both verbs.

So this structure works like:

• A cooperativa recicla o metal e reutiliza o plástico.

In English, this is similar to:

• The cooperative recycles the metal and reuses the plastic.

You do not need to repeat a cooperativa unless you want extra emphasis.

Usually both are possible depending on context.

• cooperative is the more direct and formal translation
• co-op is a natural informal English equivalent

In this sentence, a cooperativa refers to an organization or association working cooperatively.

Portuguese often uses the definite article with nouns that refer to things in a general sense, including materials.

So:

• o metal can mean metal in general
• o plástico can mean plastic in general

English often drops the article in these cases, but Portuguese usually keeps it.

They are related but not the same:

• reciclar = to recycle
  This usually means processing a material so it can become raw material again.

• reutilizar = to reuse
  This means using something again, often without fully transforming it.

So the sentence contrasts two actions:

• the cooperative recycles metal
• and reuses plastic

A simple English-friendly guide:

• recicla ≈ heh-see-kla or reh-see-kla
• reutiliza ≈ heh-oo-tee-LEE-zah or reh-oo-tee-LEE-zah

A few tips for Brazilian Portuguese:

• r at the beginning of a word often sounds like an English h
• the stressed syllable in reutiliza is li
• the stressed syllable in recicla is ci

The accent mark shows the stressed syllable:

• plás-ti-co

Without the accent, Portuguese stress rules would suggest a different pronunciation. The accent helps show that the stress is on the first syllable: plás.

It also helps distinguish the correct vowel quality and rhythm.

Yes, but the original order is the most neutral and natural:

• A cooperativa recicla o metal e reutiliza o plástico.

You could also say:

• A cooperativa reutiliza o plástico e recicla o metal.

That simply changes which action is mentioned first.

More dramatic rearrangements are possible, but they can sound marked or literary, so learners should usually keep the basic order: subject + verb + object.

It can mean metal in general as a material category.

In Portuguese, singular nouns with a definite article often express a whole class:

• o metal = metal as a material
• o plástico = plastic as a material

So this sentence most naturally sounds like a general statement about what the cooperative does.

If you wanted plural nouns and verbs, you could say:

• As cooperativas reciclam o metal e reutilizam o plástico.
  = The cooperatives recycle metal and reuse plastic.

Or, if you mean plural countable items:

• A cooperativa recicla os metais e reutiliza os plásticos.

Changes:

• a → as
• recicla → reciclam
• reutiliza → reutilizam
• o → os

Not in normal standard Portuguese for this sentence.

You would usually need the articles:

• A cooperativa recicla o metal e reutiliza o plástico.

Leaving them out can sound unnatural, headline-like, or incomplete. Portuguese generally prefers articles here much more than English does.