Is Recycling Actually Better for the Environment Than Reducing Waste?
Is Recycling Actually Better for the Environment Than Reducing Waste? Recycling is often presented as one of the easiest ways to help the environment. Separating paper, plastic, glass, and metal can keep materials out of landfills and allow some resources to be used again. But there is an important question behind the recycling conversation: Is recycling actually better for the environment than reducing waste in the first place? In most cases, reducing waste comes before recycling in the waste hierarchy because preventing waste avoids the environmental impacts associated with producing, transporting, using, collecting, processing, and disposing of materials. Recycling still plays an important role, especially for materials that cannot reasonably be reused or avoided. The most sustainable approach is therefore not simply choosing recycling over waste reduction. It is understanding where each strategy fits and using them together. For organizations looking to improve their environ...