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Key Drivers: The Waste Hierarcy
The principles underlying good waste management practices are based on the waste hierarchy contained with the Waste Strategy for England, 2007, which sets out the priorities for dealing with waste:
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It is important to recognise that preventing waste being generated in the first place is the optimum solution. It reduces the amount of raw materials, energy, transport, time and staff resources needed, and is the most sustainable solution for all organisations. Recycling is an increasingly popular choice but still has a negative environmental impacts (for example, associated with transporting wastes for recycling; using energy in reprocessing), so it should be treated only as the last option after options higher up the hierarchy have been adopted wherever possible.
The waste hierarchy
- Eliminate - avoid producing waste in the first place
- Reduce - minimise the amount of waste you produce
- Reuse - use items as many times as possible
- Recycle - recycle what you can only after you have reused it
- Dispose - dispose of what’s left in a responsible way
It is important to recognise that preventing waste being generated in the first place is the optimum solution. It reduces the amount of raw materials, energy, transport, time and staff resources needed, and is the most sustainable solution for all organisations. Recycling is an increasingly popular choice but still has a negative environmental impacts (for example, associated with transporting wastes for recycling; using energy in reprocessing), so it should be treated only as the last option after options higher up the hierarchy have been adopted wherever possible.
