The waste hierarchy

Andrew Wright explores the waste hierarchy – a structured approach to waste management

The primary, or most desired, solution for dealing with waste is simply preventing waste in the first place. By focusing on product design, efficient manufacturing processes and consumer behaviour changes, we can avoid waste generation at its source. By promoting responsible consumption and sustainable practices, we can minimise waste and make a significant impact on environmental sustainability.

Prevention
Waste reduction or prevention is often just about the source and not producing something that will go to waste in the first place. However, companies that revive redundant resources for reuse, for example, an ITAD/STARR service provider reviving a computer, will also help to prevent waste as new equipment does not need to be bought – which will help to prevent waste from being produced in the first place.

This happens because a new machine is not entered into the cycle. Eventually (given a long enough run) all technology dies and so, if a new piece enters the technology life cycle, it will form some sort of eventual future waste. Another example is choosing to buy clothes that will last or buy second hand from a re-seller or a charity shop therefore avoiding buying ‘fast fashion’ for quick use and disposal.

Revived
By re-selling revived high-end technology and other products at depreciated prices we all can:

stop older kit from either going to landfill or being recycled
stop a new product from starting its life cycle which could eventually go to waste provide products to people at more affordable prices than if bought new. For example, with technology assets this will contribute towards improving digital equality.

Reuse and repurpose
Next in the waste hierarchy is the emphasis on reusing and repurposing. Reviving redundant products/technologies for re-use is a powerful way to prevent waste. Not only does it prevent a new thing entering the market, it also stops the thing itself being disposed of. It guarantees that the thing will avoid the less desired methods of waste processing in the waste hierarchy.

Repurposing is a specific kind of reuse where a product changes its function, for example, using a tyre as a fishing boat fender.

Recycling
The next step in the waste hierarchy is recycling. This one everyone knows about due to its usefulness in reducing the negative impact of household waste. Recycling involves the collection, processing and transformation of waste materials into new products or materials. It conserves resources, reduces energy consumption and minimises the strain on raw materials and our planet’s reserves of resources. Good recycling ensures that valuable resources are recovered and used, supporting a sustainable approach to waste management. Recycling still uses resources that produce waste and this is why reducing and reusing are so important. Recycling is still far better than resorting to landfill or dumping.

Recovering
The bottom three steps of the waste hierarchy, namely recovering energy, treating waste and disposing (dumping) of waste, should be approached with caution due to their negative impacts. While these steps may have their place in specific circumstances, they should never replace or overshadow the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling.