The Waste Heirarchy is a framework used across the UK to rank waste management options from most to least environmentally friendly, helping organisations make better decisions about how they handle their waste.
The Waste Hierarchy encourages everyone to reduce the amount of waste they produce and to manage any unavoidable waste in the most responsible way possible. Wherever possible, waste should be prevented, reused, or recycled, with disposal to landfill considered only as a last resort.
You should aim to move up the waste hierarchy by reviewing how your waste is produced. You should also explore opportunities to prevent and reduce it. Not only does this support your environmental responsibilities, but it can help lower overall waste management costs.
The five levels of the Waste Hierarchy are:
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Prevention
The best approach is to stop waste from being created in the first place. This can include better planning, smarter purchasing, improved processes, and raising awareness to help reduce waste across all types of materials. -
Reuse
Where possible, find ways to use items again before throwing them away. This might mean repairing equipment, reusing packaging, or donating unwanted but usable items such as furniture, tools, or supplies - or even, food. -
Recycling
When reuse isn’t possible, materials should be separated and recycled. This includes paper, cardboard, plastics, metals, glass, and food or organic waste – all of which can be processed into new products or resources. -
Recovery
If recycling isn’t an option, waste can still be put to use by recovering energy through processes like anaerobic digestion or energy-from-waste facilities. This helps reduce the volume going to landfill and makes the most of the resources we use. -
Disposal
The final and least preferred option is disposal – sending waste to landfill or incineration without energy recovery. This should be avoided wherever possible due to its environmental impact.
By managing your waste in line with the Waste Hierarchy, you can improve sustainability, support a circular economy and reduce its impact on the environment.