Waste Hierarchy

"The waste hierarchy refers to the “3 Rs”—reduce, reuse and recycle—which classify waste management strategies according to their desirability in terms of waste minimization. The waste hierarchy remains the cornerstone of most waste minimization strategies. The aim of the waste hierarchy is to extract the maximum practical benefits from products and to generate the minimum amount of waste; see resource recovery. The waste hierarchy is represented as a pyramid because the basic premise is for policy to take action first and prevent the generation of waste. The next step, or preferred action, is to reduce the generation of waste, such as by reuse. The next is recycling, which would include composting. Following this step is material recovery and waste-to-energy. Energy can be recovered from processes such as landfill and combustion at this level of the hierarchy. The final action is disposal, in landfills or through incineration without energy recovery. This last step is the final resort for waste that has not been prevented, diverted or recovered. The waste hierarchy represents the progression of a product or material through the sequential stages of the pyramid of waste management. The hierarchy represents the latter parts of the life cycle for each product."