Click to enlarge Recognizing the urgency of Canada's waste problem, the federal government, provincial and municipal governments, and concerned businesses and individuals have been working to reduce the amount of waste needing disposal. Recycling and Recovery . The 4Rs 1. Wherever possible, waste reduction is the preferable option-it is best to produce as little waste as possible. If waste is produced, every effort should be made to reuse it if at all practical.
Recycling is the third option in the waste management hierarchy.
Although recycling does help to conserve resources and reduce wastes, it is important to remember that there are economic and environmental costs associated with waste collection and recycling processes. For this reason, recycling should really only be considered for waste which cannot be reduced or reused. Finally, it may be possible to recover materials or energy from waste which cannot be reduced, reused or recycled. Opportunities to reduce and reuse waste abound. Practicing the first 2Rs of waste management can be as simple as changing household habits or as complex as altering industrial processes.