Waste is defined by the Cambridge English dictionary as unwanted matter or material of any type, especially what is left after useful substances or parts have been removed. In our common language, waste means trash. Management of trash is always a challenge. Experts recommend that we understand the hierarchy of waste management to be able to handle our waste better. We can summarize these as the 5Rs of Waste Management.
1. Refuse – For smart waste management, the first in the hierarchy is to refuse unnecessary, excessive and single-use packaging materials. This means that when go shopping we refuse plastic packaging by bringing our own bag. We refuse single-serve utensils, instead we use bamboo or steel straws, ceramic/plastic chopsticks or use of ceramic cups or thermal containers. We refuse plastic bags when we only have a few items bought. Refusing also means that we filter our wants and stop buying items that will be used once.
2. Reduce– Means we use less so we have less trash and garbage. We reduce by buying reusable items than disposable ones. Take our meals to work in reusable containers. Use our own eco bag instead of single serve plastic bags. Buy only what we need.
3. Reuse – Getting the most out of things by using again for as many times possible before these are thrown in the garbage. Give unwanted toys, books and clothes to charitable organizations. Save gift bags and wrapping papers to use again. Use ice cream plastic containers for storage. Reuse lessens waste while we lessen our expenses.
4. Recycle – similar with the 3rd R, recycling promotes the reuse of materials but for other purposes. It is some form of re-processing to produce another product. Example is plastic packaging recycled into bags. Paper, cardboard, plastic, aluminum, tin and glass are the main products that are recycled. Unlike reusing, there are economic and environmental costs associated with waste collection and recycling. For this reason, recycling should only be considered for waste which cannot be reduced or reused.
5. Recover – Last in the hierarchy is recovery. Materials and energy can be recovered from items that cannot be reduced, reused or recycled. An example of this is the recovery of metals from electrical and electronic equipment. For some companies and households, their recovery measures include the treatment and reuse of waste water, which is then used in cleaning and watering plants.
Sources:
http://www.learnz.org.nz/redvale181/bg-standard-f/the-5-r%27s-of-waste-management
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