Waste hierarchy

It can help prevent emissions of greenhouse gases, reduce pollutants, save energy, conserve resources, create jobs and stimulate the development of green technologies.

[5] Life cycle thinking and assessment can be used to support decision-making in the area of waste management and to identify the best environmental options.

It can help policy makers understand the benefits and trade-offs they have to face when making decisions on waste management strategies.

[5] This duality approach gives a broader view of all environmental aspects and ensures any action has an overall benefit compared to other options.

[10] In the first legislative proposals of 2006 the European Commission suggested a 3-step hierarchy composed of 1- Prevention and Reuse, 2- Recycling and Recovery (with incineration) and 3- Disposal.

This was heavily criticised because it was putting recycling at the same level of incineration which was coherent with the traditional pro-incineration position from the European Commission.

[8] Article 4 of the directive lays down a five-step hierarchy of waste management options which must be applied by Member States in this priority order.

Among engineers, a similar hierarchy of waste management has been known as ARRE strategy: avoid, reduce, recycle, eliminate.

[1] Source reduction involves efforts to reduce hazardous waste and other materials by modifying industrial production.

Source reduction methods involve changes in manufacturing technology, raw material inputs, and product formulation.