The 7 R’s and the Hierarchy of Waste Management
You’ve probably heard of the 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. They are the bones of the standard waste hierarchy, which aims to protect the environment by prioritizing the preservation of resources as much as possible. While the 3 R’s are effective, they are lacking nuance when it comes to the current state of waste management. That’s why I’ve come up with a waste hierarchy that has 7 R’s instead: Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle, and Rot.
It’s more important than ever to incorporate the 7 R’s into all aspects of waste management. While it comes as no surprise that we produce a lot of trash, we are led to believe that much of it (especially plastic) is recycled and put back into circulation. Unfortunately, that is simply not true, and much of our trash ends up in the landfill, where it takes up valuable space, releases greenhouse gasses, and contaminates surrounding water supplies.
We have to work together to reduce the environmental impacts and health consequences of municipal waste by moving towards a zero waste economy. Managing waste in such a way that materials are reused over and over again requires massive effort not just from you, the individual, but also from producers. This is where the 7 R’s come in.
Photo by Katie Rodriguez
What is zero waste?
According to the Zero Waste International Alliance, zero waste is defined as:
“The conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.”
There are many examples of communities and organizations working towards zero waste. The city of Fort Collins, for example, issued one of the most extensive city-wide zero waste plans back in 2013. Efforts include charging waste customers for the amount of trash that they produce and other incentives to get away from wasteful habits.
According to Environment America, there need to be more incentives for consumers and producers to produce less waste, not more. As it stands, there are few incentives for producers to design and create quality products that last or can be repaired. And don’t even get me started on packaging.
The bottom line? Consumers and producers alike, we all have a stake in making waste management more sustainable.
The 7 R’s of waste management
The 3 R’s – reduce, reuse, recycle – are the core principles of sustainable waste management. Schools use these principles to teach students about the importance of protecting the environment, but they’re also just a helpful reminder that you can help keep waste out of the landfill. However, the 3 R’s only cover a portion of the actions that individuals and organizations alike can take to reduce waste. By contrast, the 7 R’s allow for a much more nuanced approach to waste management.
It’s important to understand that the 7 R’s are a hierarchy, organized in order of importance. Notably, recycling is near the bottom because even the most vigilant recycling program can only do so much if more and more waste is introduced to the streamline in the first place. And that, unfortunately, seems to be the current state of things.
Let’s take a closer look at each of the seven principles:
Rethink
The first step in effective waste management is rethinking consumption and waste. Consumers, for instance, can reframe their consumption and take stock of what’s “really important” and how their habits impact the environment around them.
Similarly, industrial companies and producers must rethink how they produce their products. Top-down incentives should be introduced through policy to encourage producers to reshape their models. Instead of encouraging fast consumption, companies should be producing quality products that last longer and can be repaired.
Photo by Jasmin Sessler
Refuse
Next, one of the most critical principles of the more nuanced hierarchy of waste management is refusing anything that doesn’t match up with a zero waste system. This principle is an obvious one for consumers, who can influence bottom-up change by refusing items that they don’t need.
For example, you can say “no” to single-use plastics whenever possible (bring your own utensils or coffee mug instead), and refuse items that you don’t really need, even free ones.
Not only does this signal to producers to shift their production models, but it has the added benefit of keeping your own life clutter-free.
When it comes to fashion, refuse fast fashion as much as possible and choose sustainable fashion alternatives instead.
Reduce
Reduce and refuse go hand in hand, though reducing takes things a step further than simply saying “no.” Reducing is one of the most effective ways to reduce the generation of waste to begin with.
Consumers can make many choices to reduce waste. For example, you can bring your own reusable shopping bags to grocery stores, an action that is now incentivized in states such as California and Oregon, where plastic bags are banned and even paper bags incur an additional fee.
Other ways to reduce include:
Purchasing quality products that last longer
Purchasing products with eco-friendly packaging (paper bags, cardboard boxes, or glass jars instead of plastic ones)
For producers, redesigning products to last longer, and packaging to be more sustainable
Buying in bulk; some grocery stores allow you to bring your own containers for bulk shopping, or you can simply opt for the larger, more concentrated size (if bulk quantity is too much, consider sharing with friends or family)
Buying unpackaged fruits and vegetables, and bringing your own produce bags to the store
Avoiding single use plastics and other single use items such as paper plates
Using two-sided printing when possible
Opting in to paperless billing
Unsubscribing from paper magazines, newspapers, and catalogs
Using cloth napkins and cloths instead of paper ones
Reuse
While reducing is a critical step in the waste hierarchy, it’s also important to recognize that as consumers we only have so much control over what we can and can’t buy. The next logical step is to reuse and repurpose items whenever possible.
Plastic take-out containers and glass jars can be reused as tupperware. Plastic jugs and bottles, amongst other items, can be repurposed in the garden. Things considered trash can be turned into a piece of art. If you need inspiration, the internet is full of DIY guides.
Finally, instead of tossing something that still has some life left in it, consider selling or donating it instead. “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” after all. Check out Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or your local consignment and thrift stores for great places to sell and donate.
Repair
Too often, we throw away something that could be repaired instead. Many everyday items, from clothes to appliances, can be repaired or mended once or even many times, before they have no more life left in them.
Whether you want to try your hand at DIY repairs or are willing to pay a craftsperson instead, repairing is a sustainable way to keep items (especially bulky ones) in circulation. Cars, furniture, appliances, clothes, and electronics are all common examples of repairable items, though almost anything can be repaired if you set your mind to it.
In the same vein, think about buying items secondhand. Many appliances and electronics can be purchased “certified refurbished” which means they’re as good as new, for a fraction of the cost.
Also consider how you take care of your items; do you do everything you can to make sure they’ll have a long life? Don’t just abuse your phone because you’ve already resigned yourself to buying a new one in a couple of years. Challenge yourself, and see how long it’ll function when you take good care of it instead!
Recycle
If an item has no more reasonable use left, it might be time to recycle it. Although recycling rules vary from municipality to municipality, common recyclable materials include glass, paper, and aluminum.
When it comes to plastic, it’s best to check with your local guide. You can also check out Waste Management’s recycle right guide for additional information and legislation.
Keep in mind, while recycling is designed to keep valuable (and limited) materials in circulation, it’s still a process that requires an immense amount of resources and energy, so we shouldn’t rely on it alone. That said, recycling is key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and water pollutants, and saves energy when compared to the production/extraction of virgin materials.
But don’t just “wishcycle” your way into complacency. Don’t just chuck everything you think could be recycled into the bin; too many non-recyclables can doom an entire batch to the landfill, doing more harm than good. Check with your local waste management company to learn what you can and can’t recycle in your area.
Similarly, recycling can be deemed contaminated if there’s too much food waste. Do a quick rinse of cans and food containers before adding them to the bin to prevent this.
Rot (compost)
Finally, there’s another way to recycle that’s gaining more and more momentum. Rot, the seventh principle of the hierarchy of waste management, is an effective way to recycle food waste and yard trimmings.
Whether with a home composting system or through a municipal “green waste” pick-up, anyone can compost. Not only can it provide you with a nutrient-rich soil amendment after a few months, but composting keeps food scraps out of the landfill, where they decompose anaerobically and release harmful greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.
How do you incorporate the 7 R’s of waste management into your life? What other methods do you use to reduce waste in your life? Let us know below!
