Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Además, el reciclaje y la limpieza ahorran tiempo cuando regresamos. - Besides, recycling and cleaning save time when we come back.

Because the subject is compound: el reciclaje y la limpieza (two singular nouns joined by y). In Spanish, a compound subject takes a third-person plural verb: ahorran. If the subject were just one of them (e.g., el reciclaje), you’d use ahorra.

Why are both articles used (el reciclaje y la limpieza)? Could I drop them?

They’re different genders, so Spanish normally repeats the article: el (masc.) + la (fem.).
With general/abstract nouns as subjects, Spanish tends to use the definite article: El reciclaje y la limpieza…
You may see the articles omitted in headlines or very telegraphic style (Reciclaje y limpieza ahorran tiempo), but with full sentences the version with articles is the most natural.

Why is reciclaje masculine and limpieza feminine?

It’s lexical gender. A useful pattern:

Nouns ending in -aje are almost always masculine: el reciclaje, el garaje, el aprendizaje.
Nouns ending in -eza are usually feminine: la limpieza, la belleza, la pereza.

Could I use verbs as subjects, like Reciclar y limpiar?

Yes: Reciclar y limpiar ahorran tiempo or Reciclar y limpiar ahorra tiempo. With two infinitives:

Plural verb (ahorran) treats them as two separate actions.
Singular (ahorra) treats the pair as one combined activity.
Both are acceptable; choose based on the nuance you want.

Why is it cuando regresamos (indicative) and not cuando regresemos (subjunctive)?

Use the indicative after cuando for habitual/general situations: …ahorran tiempo cuando regresamos (whenever we come back).
Use the subjunctive when the time clause refers to a future/unspecified event from the speaker’s viewpoint: …ahorrarán tiempo cuando regresemos (when we come back in the future).

Is regresar different from volver or retornar? Which is more Latin American?

Regresar and volver both mean “to return/come back.” In Latin America, regresar is very common; in Spain, volver is more frequent. Both are widely understood.
Retornar is more formal/literary.
Don’t confuse devolver (to return/give back something).
In some regions (e.g., parts of Mexico), you’ll hear pronominal regresarse: Nos regresamos; standard regresar works everywhere.

How do I say “save us time”? Do I need an indirect object pronoun?

Add nos: Además, el reciclaje y la limpieza nos ahorran tiempo cuando regresamos.
Without nos, it’s a general statement (“save time” in general). With nos, it’s explicit: they save time for us.

Why is there no article before tiempo?

With mass/uncountable nouns used in a general sense, Spanish typically omits the article: ahorrar tiempo.
Use el tiempo only if you mean a specific block of time: nos ahorra el tiempo de volver a limpiar (it saves us the time of cleaning again).

Would an impersonal se sound natural here?

Yes, if you frame recycling/cleaning as the means rather than the subject:
Con el reciclaje y la limpieza, se ahorra tiempo cuando regresamos.
Here, se ahorra is impersonal; con el reciclaje y la limpieza is a prepositional phrase, not the subject.

Could I use también instead of además? What about aparte or encima?

Además is a discourse connector (“in addition”) and is very standard.
También modifies the clause/element (“also, too”) and usually is NOT followed by a comma: También el reciclaje y la limpieza ahorran tiempo.
Aparte (“besides”) is more informal.
Encima (“on top of that”) is quite colloquial in Spain and can sound a bit emphatic/complaining. For neutral tone, además is safest.

Do I need the comma after Además?

Yes. As a sentence-initial connector, Además is normally followed by a comma: Además, …
Also note the accent: Además (not “Ademas”).

Why is it y and not e?

Spanish changes y to e before words beginning with the sound /i/ (spelled i- or hi-): padres e hijos; interesante e importante.
Here, the next word is la, so y stays y: …reciclaje y la limpieza…

Does limpieza mean “cleaning” or “cleanliness”?

Both, depending on context:

Action: la limpieza de la cocina (the cleaning of the kitchen).
Quality/state: la limpieza es importante (cleanliness is important).
In this sentence, it’s the activity (cleaning).

Any pronunciation or spelling tips for this sentence?

Además: stress the last syllable; the accent mark shows this.
reciclaje: the j sounds like a harsh English “h” (); ci is like “see.”
ahorran: silent h; rr is a trill.
regresamos: hard g as in “get.”
y is pronounced like English “ee.”