Waste Minimisation

You may have heard of something called the waste hierarchy. It is pictured below and it reflects the preferred choice for the disposal of any waste either from your home or business. It was first seen in the European Union´s Waste Framework Directive of 1975.

In the UK it was incorporated into our waste management policy in the the early 1990s. It has developed in appearance over the years but in the Government Strategy Unit report Waste Not Want Not (2000) the version shown below was adopted.

As you will see the preferred choice is waste reduction or waste minimisation as it is also known. But what is it?

Essentially waste minimisation is all about prevention. Rather than worrying about what to do with waste after you have created it (such as recycling or landfilling), waste minimisation challenges you to not create it in the first place.

This is sometimes harder to understand, but it is more rewarding when you realise how dramatically you can reduce your impact on your environment. All it takes is thought.

Waste minimisation begins in your mind, thinking your choices through before you act, do you need to buy a product with excess packaging or is there an alternative? Could you take your own bags when you go shopping?

Most waste minimisation begins at the checkout, we are often bombarded with attractive but unnecessary packaging, but don´t be fooled, you are paying for it and will it just end up in the bin? Buy what you need in as little packaging as you can. Don´t buy it to bin it.

Try reusable items and remember your milkman. Once you get the idea, waste minimisation opportunities are everywhere.