Other times, it has more to do with how the product is used. Sometimes buying for source reduction means that several different parts of an organization must agree on policies that result in fewer or different products being purchased. Waste reduction includes recycling and other strategies that decrease disposal quantities as well as reduce waste at the source. Source reduction, on the other hand, is a sub-set of waste reduction and refers to reducing waste by not producing it at all. This article deals with source-reducing toxins in a purchasing context but not with other processes covered under hazardous waste reduction programs.
Source reduction is first in the solid waste hierarchy for good reason.
While recycling rightly questions and changes how products are manufactured, it is not designed to question why they are produced. By itself, recycling does not address issues of overproduction or wasteful product use. Source reduction, however, goes to the heart of both issues. Applying source reduction and recycling together is environmentally and globally responsible, particularly when they result in significantly reduced demand for resources and eliminate the environmental damage that often accompanies resource extraction. Thoughtful application can create this heightened level of responsibility without reducing our standard of living.