{"id":1672,"date":"2020-07-25T13:49:55","date_gmt":"2020-07-25T12:49:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new.ehs.com.ph\/?p=1672"},"modified":"2020-10-23T12:19:59","modified_gmt":"2020-10-23T12:19:59","slug":"5rs-hierarchy-of-waste-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ehs.com.ph\/?p=1672","title":{"rendered":"5Rs \u2013 Hierarchy of Waste Management"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In order to manage our waste, we need to\nunderstand the hierarchy of waste management. \nWe can summarize these as the 5Rs of Waste Management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Refuse <\/strong>\u2013 In order to eliminate waste, the first thing we should do is to refuse\nusing single-use plastics and materials. \nThis means that instead of using plastic or paper cups, we should be\npatronizing the use of ceramic cups or thermal containers.  Bringing our bamboo or steel straws,\nceramic\/plastic chopsticks and stainless utensils is also part of refusing\nsingle-use materials.  By choosing to\nrefuse, we have the power to tell companies what we want.  <\/strong>If people will continue to refuse buying\nsingle-use items then companies will start producing alternatives. Refusing\nalso means that we filter our wants and stop buying items that will be used\nonce.<\/li>
  2. Reduction (<\/strong>Reduce) \u2013 Next objective is to reduce single use materials by\nchoosing to buy items that are placed in reusable containers.  Reduction also speaks of reducing the\nquantity of disposable materials we are buying and using.<\/li>
  3. Reuse<\/strong> \u2013 Third in the hierarchy is reusing containers and other items that\ncan be used for the same purpose again. \nThis way, we lessen waste while we lessen our expenses.<\/li>
  4. Recycle<\/strong> \u2013 similar with the 3rd<\/sup> R, recycling promotes the reuse\nof materials but for other purposes. \nUnlike reusing, there\nare economic and environmental costs associated with waste collection and\nrecycling. For this reason, recycling should only be considered for waste which\ncannot be reduced or reused.<\/li>
  5. Recover<\/strong> \u2013 Last in the hierarchy is recovery.  Materials and energy can be recovered from\nitems that cannot be refused, reduced, reused or recycled.  An example of this is the recovery of metals\nfrom electrical and electronic equipment. \nAnother example is composting. \nFor some companies and households, their recovery measures include the\ntreatment and reuse of waste water, which is then used in cleaning and watering\nplants.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Sources:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    https:\/\/www.iisd.org\/business\/tools\/bt_4r.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    http:\/\/www.pacebutler.com\/blog\/ways-to-recover-metals-from-electronic-waste\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
    ♻️ Reduce, Reuse, Recycle<\/a><\/blockquote>