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The Business of Recycling – WRAP
Guidance for All Workplaces
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Why your business should recycle

The Waste Hierarchy

Estimated reading time: 1 min

Preventing waste in the first place is always the best option, as you can see from the ‘Waste Hierarchy’ below, which ranks waste management options in order of how good they are for the environment. If waste is unavoidable, it should ideally be prepared for reuse, recycled or turned into something else of value (such as energy). Disposal in general waste is the last resort.

Image of the waste hierarchy which reads: Prevention If you can't prevent it, then... Prepare for reuse If you can't prepare for reuse then... Recycling If you can't recycle, then... Recover value If you can't recover value (e.g. energy), then... Disposal landfill if no alternative is available

Your business should aim to ‘move up’ the waste hierarchy in the way you treat your waste, and as we’re about to find out, there might even be a bonus: as well as improving your eco-credentials, it could save you money!