Thinking for the Future:

The Possibility of Zero Waste
in the Regional District of Nanaimo

Appendix 2 - A New Hierarchy

With the advent of waste reduction programs, a hierarchy was created that has been largely misunderstood since then. The three R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle, is a familiar phrase in today’s society. Unfortunately, the importance of the first two R’s has been largely lost in the public’s perception. The emphasis placed on recycling has done much to divert waste from disposal, but little to reduce consumption.

In addition to this, many nuances of reduction are lost in the oversimplification of the three R’s. While a good catch phrase and effective marketing tool, those in the waste management field are in dire need of a new and expanded hierarchy on which to structure their efforts. An example of one can be summarized as follows:

• Reevaluating - what we really need

• Reducing - our consumption

  • Buying fewer unnecessary products

  • Buying better quality, durable products, which are less likely to be discarded.

• Responsibility - accepting responsibility for our own waste

• Repair and Reuse - instead of replacement

• Reuse - within the home

• Redistribution - of goods to those in need

• Resale - through salvage, deconstruction, or thrift stores

• Recycling - goods with no further use

  • locally through small businesses

  • through large scale recycling operations

Organics are an important part of the waste stream that is ignored within the three R’s.  They have a similar  hierarchy of their own:

• Reduction - in production of organic waste

  • grasscycling and native plant gardens

  • avoidance of over-buying foods, which leads to spoilage

• Redistribution - of food to those in need

• Recycling - in the form of composting

  • at home through backyard composting

  • through commercial enterprises.

Only after all these options have been ruled out should an object be discarded. It goes without saying that each step within the hierarchy requires people to rethink their accepted patterns of behavior, but it is also necessary for the consumer to support the recycling industry through their purchasing habits, by buying recycled and used goods.

 

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