I know numerous potters who don't recycle their clay scraps and just throw them away. Some of them trim away only a modest amount so their shavings are small. Perhaps it is the way I throw but I have lots of leftover scraps and I hate to throw away clay that can be reconstituted and used again. It is like having free clay. And I like free.
The scraps must be completely dry before they will reabsorb water. Then water is added and after it is nice and mushy it is dried in handfuls on a plaster board. Once it is the right consistency it is wedged and ready to be thrown. I usually make smaller items with recycled clay such as mugs.
