Waste Management Hierarchy

The Waste Management Hierarchy (see Figure 1) is at the centre of European waste management policy. The hierarchy indicates the relative priority of different methods of managing waste, and informs the process of drafting waste management policy and planning initiatives on how to progress towards more sustainable waste management practices. The Waste Management Strategy promotes more sustainable waste management practices based on this hierarchy. PREVENTION (Most Favoured Option), Minimisation, Reuse, Recycling, Energy Recovery, DISPOSAL. The appropriate management option in a particular case will vary according to the source of the waste and local considerations. A sustainable approach to waste management requires greater emphasis on options at the top of the hierarchy and less reliance on waste disposal to landfill without recovery.