What is the solid waste management hierarchy?
EPA promotes the solid waste management hierarchy as the best way to manage solid waste. Source reduction or waste prevention, which includes reuse, comes first, followed by recycling. Waste that cannot be prevented or recycled can be incinerated or landfilled according to the proper federal and state regulations. EPA does not distinguish between disposal methods (i.e., incineration and landfilling are considered equal).
The solid waste management hierarchy ranks the most preferable ways to address solid waste. Source reduction or waste prevention is the best approach. This is followed by reuse and recycling/composting. Waste that cannot be prevented, reused or recycled/composted can be incinerated or landfilled according to proper regulations. Why is source reduction at the top of the hierarchy? Because the best approach to managing solid waste is to avoid creating it in the first place. This means reducing the amount of trash discarded and reusing containers and products instead of throwing them away. Once waste is created, recycling, which includes composting, is one of the most effective methods of reducing the amount of material in the waste stream. If waste cannot be recycled, incineration or sanitary landfilling are the next preferred methods of treatment. Q & A courtesy of the United States EPA.
