A good example is avoiding contamination of a large amount of water by using another method to clean hazardous materials from machines or products instead of washing them. Recycling , also referred to as recovery and reuse, is common in industry. Recycling removes a substance from a waste and returns it to productive use. Industries commonly recycle solvents, acids, and metals. Substitution of raw materials involves replacing raw materials that generate a large amount of hazardous waste with those that generate little or no waste.
Manufacturers can substantially reduce waste volume through substitution.
Industry often substitutes recycled products for raw natural resources. For example, a manufacturer can use recycled aluminum cans instead of aluminum ore in making new cans. Not only can recycled materials be cheaper than raw materials, but their use creates more demand for recycled products. Product substitution involves finding nonhazardous substitutes for materials and products used routinely in homes and businesses. For example, by using concrete posts instead of creosote-preserved wood posts in construction, builders can prevent hazardous creosote from leaching into the surrounding soil or groundwater.