Waste Management
Since the current technology does not allow complete elimination of waste, waste produced should be managed in a sustainable manner. The government’s white paper, "Making Waste Work" defines the strategy to achieve sustainable waste management practice. This is called the waste hierarchy. According to this,
The first priority for more sustainable waste management is to reduce the production of waste to the minimum consistent with economic sustainability. Particular priority should be given to minimising the hazardous components of waste, and certain hazardous materials may need to be eliminated entirely from the waste stream.
After reduction comes re-use. That is putting objects back into use so that they do not enter the waste stream.
The third level of the waste hierarchy is a broad waste recovery category, which incorporates materials recycling, composting and recovery of energy from waste. The choice between these should be based on the Best Practicable Environmental Option for a particular waste stream. It is also suggested that an integrated approach, which incorporates all these options, will usually be the preferred practice.
Waste disposal comes at the bottom of the waste hierarchy, as the least attractive waste management option. However, waste disposal has to be done at high standards to make it as sustainable as possible.
Based on the 1998/99 survey, in both England and Wales the waste management practices are heavily weighted towards the bottom of the waste hierarchy, particularly towards disposal. This may be driven by the economics of the waste management options. Or could be even due to lack of information about the competitive benefits of waste minimisation.
The following links provide more information on each of the above broad category of waste management options.
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