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Non-Hazardous Waste Management Hierarchy

Because no single waste management

approach is suitable for managing all

waste streams in all circumstances, EPA

developed a hierarchy ranking the most

environmentally sound strategies for

municipal solid waste. The hierarchy

places emphasis on reducing, reusing,

and recycling the majority of wastes and

demonstrates the key components of

EPA's Sustainable Materials Management

Program (SMM).

SMM is an effort to protect the

environment and conserve resources for

future generations through a systems

approach that seeks to reduce materials

use and their associated environmental

impacts over their entire life cycles,

starting with extraction of natural resources and product design and ending with decisions on

recycling or final disposal.

Source Reduction and Reuse

Source reduction, also known as waste prevention, means reducing waste at the source. It can take

many different forms, including reusing or donating items, buying in bulk, reducing packaging,

redesigning products, and reducing toxicity. Source reduction also is important in manufacturing.

Lightweighting of packaging, reuse, and remanufacturing are all becoming more popular business

trends. Purchasing products that incorporate these features supports source reduction.

Source reduction can:

Save natural resources;

Conserve energy;

Reduce pollution;

Reduce the toxicity of our waste; and

Save money for consumers and businesses alike.

Recycling/Composting

Recycling is a series of activities that includes the collection of used, reused, or unused items that

would otherwise be considered waste; sorting and processing the recyclable products into raw

materials; and remanufacturing the recycled raw materials into new products. Consumers provide

the last link in recycling by purchasing products made from recycled content. Recycling also can

include composting of food scraps, yard trimmings, and other organic materials.

Recycling prevents the emission of many greenhouse gases and water pollutants, saves energy,

Wastes - Non-Hazardous Waste - Municipal Solid Waste

http://www.epa.gov/wastes/nonhaz/municipal/hierarchy.htm

Last updated on 11/22/2013

Solid Waste Management Hierarchy | Wastes | US EPA http://www.epa.gov/wastes/nonhaz/municipal/hierarchy.htm

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supplies valuable raw materials to industry, creates jobs, stimulates the development of greener

technologies, conserves resources for our children's future, and reduces the need for new landfills

and combustors.

Energy Recovery

Energy recovery from waste is the conversion of non-recyclable waste materials into useable heat,

electricity, or fuel through a variety of processes, including combustion, gasification, pyrolization,

anaerobic digestion, and landfill gas (LFG) recovery. This process is often called waste-to-energy

(WTE).

Treatment and Disposal

Landfills are the most common form of waste disposal and are an important component of an

integrated waste management system. Landfills that accept municipal solid waste are primarily

regulated by state, tribal, and local governments. EPA, however, has established national standards

these landfills must meet in order to stay open. The federal landfill regulations have eliminated the

open dumps of the past. Today’s landfills must meet stringent design, operation, and closure

requirements. Methane gas, a byproduct of decomposing waste, can be collected and used as fuel to

generate electricity. After a landfill is capped, the land may be used for recreation sites such as

parks, golf courses, and ski slopes.

Solid Waste Management Hierarchy | Wastes | US EPA http://www.epa.gov/wastes/nonhaz/municipal/hierarchy.htm

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