Waste hierarchy

The preferred option on the waste hierarchy is to prevent waste from being produced in the first place. We need to deliver a system that puts waste reduction at its centre.

Businesses can help by reducing the amount of packaging used in products. Redesigning products to last longer, and be easy to repair and upgrade, will prevent waste and save resources. 

Residents can help by only buying what they need and reusing what they already have. 

To deliver this priority, we will:

• lobby government to put in place stronger measures to prevent waste, reduce packaging and support use of materials with lower environmental impact 
• support local businesses to work sustainably and reduce waste 
• change the way we work, leading by example to design out waste 
• design waste services to deliver waste reduction
• provide information to help and inspire residents to reduce waste

We will work together to encourage and support reuse and repair initiatives. 

Businesses can help by providing services to upgrade and repair products. 

Residents can help by using repair service, borrowing rather than buying and renting or buying second-hand products. 

To deliver this priority, we will: 

• lobby government to enhance the right to repair and measures to increase repair and reuse  
• support businesses and communities to deliver local reuse and repair services  
• develop a directory of services, organisations and groups that promote reuse  
• support activities that promote repair and sharing of pre-loved items  
• develop reuse and repair services at recycling centres  
• maximise reuse of bulky waste items such as furniture and household appliances  
• provide information to help and inspire residents to reuse and repair more 

When waste can’t be prevented, or products and materials can’t be reused, then recycling is the next option on the waste hierarchy. This is the process of turning materials into new products. 

We will increase recycling by delivering comprehensive services and supporting residents to recycle. 

Manufacturers can help by designing products and packaging that use materials that can be easily recycled. 

Businesses can help by recycling as much of their own waste as possible. 

Residents can help by using all their recycling services. This can be at home, at community collection points, on-the-go and at recycling centres. 

To deliver this priority, we will: 

• lobby government to take further measures to increase the proportion of material recycled and the amount of recycled material used in products and packaging 
• support businesses to recycle as much of their own waste as possible  
• work with businesses to provide community collection and return points  
• provide services that collect high quality material for recycling  
• make it easier for residents to recycle different materials  
• continue to support home composting  
• develop a directory of services and local collection points for recycling  
• provide information to help and inspire residents to recycle as much as possible 

Once we have reused and recycled all we can, recovering energy and materials is the next best approach on the waste hierarchy for what is left. 

We will use appropriate technologies for the treatment of food and non-recyclable waste that aim to minimise the environmental impact and maximise energy and material recovery. 

To deliver this priority, we will: 

• stop using landfill  
• use a technology called anaerobic digestion that recovers energy and fertiliser from the treatment of food waste  
• use a technology called Energy from Waste (EfW) that recovers energy and materials from the treatment of residual waste  
• aim to capture and use heat from EfW facilities to improve the efficiency of residual waste treatment