Waste Hierarchy Explained
A framework to guide and rank waste management decisions at the consumer and service provider level. Each of the methods on the pyramid have their own unique system. Reducing consumption and Reusing packaging will provide the most benefits to our environment. In terms of the 3 “cycles”, each serve a purpose for reducing waste. When looking at the big picture, with environmental and economic sustainability being a part of our core mission, After Reduce/Reuse, Recycling is proven to offer the best advantages. Click the images below to learn more!
Triple R's = Triple Gains
Reduce
According to the EPA: In 2018, an astounding 292.4 million tons of waste was generated in The United States alone! That's 584 BILLION pounds. Of that, only 94 million tons or 188 billion pounds was recycled!
Reuse
As verified by EcoWatch: in 2021, 40 million tons of plastic waste was generated in The United States...only 5-6% or 2 million tons was recycled. Between 75-199 million tons are currently in our oceans!
Recycle
Recycling is the most sustainable "cycle" for the environment. As long as glass is collected, sorted and processed properly to be kept in the supply stream, it can be reused endlessly with no loss in quality. Processing glass for recycling involves crushing the material into "cullet" or little pebbles that are re-melted to make new containers.
Knowledge is Key
Upcycle
Upcycling can be highly beneficial for our environment if the material cannot be processed and reused. Food waste into compost is a perfect example! Plastic bottles into shoes and fabric scraps into headbands too. While transforming the material does remove it from the supply stream, this process prevents the material from going to the landfill and increases its value. Both financially and for the environment.
Downcycle
While downcycling does keep the material out of the landfill, it also removes it from the supply stream. This process can be highly beneficial, IF the material cannot be recycled effectively. A smart example is with plastic based carpeting or steel car parts. These items cannot be properly or safely recycled back into the same product, so they get turned into park benches and building materials instead. When glass bottles get transformed for an alternate use, in a market where manufacturers are actively seeking more supply, it is actually worse for our environment.
Landfill
At our rate of consumption, it is impossible to completely prevent material from ending up in the landfill. However, as it relates to total waste volume, we are only recycling 5% of glass when manufacturers can reuse EVERY SINGLE Bottle and Jar! Consumer education is paramount to solving this problem to curb the misinformation being told to the public. Knowledge is key!