Waste Minimization

The Waste Pyramid

The Waste Pyramid is a step-by-step guide to reducing waste that goes to a landfill. It is designed to be followed in order, to help minimize waste production.

• Refuse: Just say no and refuse any item you don't need
  • Examples include: removing yourself from printed publications you do not read, or requesting no plastic utensils when eating out
• Reduce: Use less and reduce your waste
  • Examples include: Buying a larger container instead of two smaller ones, or bringing your own bags when grocery shopping
• Reuse: Give items a second life
  • Examples include: Buying your clothes from a thrift store instead of a mall, or cleaning the food residue out of your jars and reusing them for another purpose
• Recycle: Items are changed from their original form to make something new
  • Make sure to follow your local municipality's guidelines to reduce contamination
• Recover: Otherwise keep items out of landfills
  • Examples include: composting food waste, or cleanly burning waste
• Dispose: The last step - send your waste to the landfill
  • Use this step as a last resort when none of the previous steps are an option