Waste Management - 4R
The four most effective ways to control waste are:
1. To recycle waste materials to make new products;
2. To recover any useful materials and energy;
3. To reuse products rather than discard them; or
4. To reduce waste generating activities.
Recycling is a series of activities that includes collecting recyclable materials that would otherwise be considered waste, sorting and processing recyclables into raw materials such as fibers, and manufacturing raw materials into new products. Collecting and processing secondary materials, manufacturing recycled-content products, and then purchasing recycled products creates a circle or loop that ensures the overall success and value of recycling. Recycling is an essential part of reducing the amount of waste we generate. Recycling turns materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable resources and generates a host of environmental, financial, and social benefits.
Buying Recycled Products
In order to make recycling economically feasible, we must "buy" recycled products and packaging. When we buy recycled products we create an economic incentive for recyclable materials to be collected, manufactured, and marketed as new products. Buying recycled has both economic and environmental benefits. Purchasing products made from or packaged in recycled materials saves resources for future generations.