Reduces toxicity of waste. Selecting nonhazardous or less hazardous items is another important component of source reduction. The benefits of preventing waste go beyond reducing reliance on other forms of waste disposal. Preventing waste also can mean economic savings for communities, businesses, schools, and individual consumers. When these households reduce waste at the source, they dispose of less trash and pay lower trash bills.
Industry also has an economic incentive to practice source reduction.
When businesses manufacture their products with less packaging, they are buying less raw material. A decrease in manufacturing costs can mean a larger profit margin, with savings that can be passed on to the consumer. Consumers also can share in the economic benefits of source reduction. What is good for the environment can be good for the pocketbook as well.