What is Waste Minimization?
Waste Minimization is reducing waste at its source, before it is even generated (called source reduction) and environmentally sound recycling. Even when hazardous wastes are stringently regulated and managed, they may sometimes pose environmental concerns. Accidents during handling and transportation of hazardous wastes can result in releases to the environment. EPA and the public devote billions of dollars annually to cleaning up contamination from past mismanagement of chemical wastes and properly managing wastes that are currently being generated. Better efforts to reduce chemical waste before it is even generated (i.e. ,Waste Minimization) would help lessen these concerns, as well as the need for these public and private expenditures on cleanups in the future.
