Waste reduction

From linear to circular

Every object we pick up, purchase, clean, or repair has a story of where it came from, how we use it, and the waste it can create after leaving our hands. 

The linear practice of take, make, use, and waste is unsustainable as resources decline and demand continues to grow. In Washington, nearly 10 million tons of material is sent to landfills annually. Research shows that 84% of material going to disposal have known recovery pathways.

When we shift our thinking to a circular model, we first reduce how much we consume and then take every step to maximize the life of items, keeping materials in circulation as long as possible. Rather than sourcing new items from raw resource extraction, we can consider reusing, repairing or renting items. Rather than tossing an item in the garbage, we can consider donation, sharing with community, recycling, or composting

Downstream waste starts with upstream decisions 

To better understand the impacts of the waste we create, we need to consider the full lifecycle of the materials we use. Most of an item’s impact comes from resource extraction and manufacturing - not how it’s managed at the end of its life. In fact, one study found that waste management contributes less than 1% of the total climate impacts associated with the consumption of goods and services.   Recognizing this allows us to prioritize upstream solutions, where the potential benefits are greatest. 
The waste hierarchy illustrates the preferred ways to approach materials management in Washington.

Prevention

The most impactful thing we can do is prevent waste from being created in the first place. By doing so, we conserve natural resources, reduce pollution, and minimize greenhouse gas emissions throughout the entire lifecycle of a product. That means coming up with innovative and durable product designs, changing our consumption habits, and rethinking how we acquire and use materials. A key part of this is avoiding unnecessary purchases and single-use items like plastic utensils. Focusing on prevention helps address the root causes of waste rather than just managing its consequences.

Reuse

Once an item has been created, the goal should be to extend its life for as long as possible through reuse. This means using it many times rather than discarding it after limited use. Sometimes that means repairing broken or worn items to provide them with a second life. Reuse can also involve donating or repurposing items so they can serve new functions. These practices help reduce the need for new resources and minimize waste by keeping valuable materials in use longer.

Recycling 

Recycling is a process of taking materials at the end of their current life and transforming them into feedstocks for new products. While recycling has benefits and keeps valuable materials in circulation, it is sometimes mistakenly viewed as a way to eliminate the environmental impacts of production. In reality, recycling often only offsets a small portion of those impacts. It still requires energy, infrastructure, and transportation, and it doesn’t address the initial resource extraction or pollution generated during manufacturing. Recycling should be seen as the best option when when reuse is no longer possible, but it is not the ideal outcome for most materials.

Disposal

Disposal is the least preferred option in the waste hierarchy because it marks the end of a material’s useful life. While landfills and incinerators play a necessary role in managing waste that cannot be diverted, reused, or recycled, they should only be considered after all other options have been exhausted. Disposal is the inevitable destinations for most materials, but we should strive to extract as much value from them before they are disposed. By reducing what we send to disposal, we help conserve resources, limit environmental impacts, and make better use of the materials we consume. 

Reduce waste at home

Waste is more than plastic packaging and inedible food. It’s any unwanted or unusable materials. Outgrown Halloween costumes, untouched books, old work uniforms, broken electronics, and white elephant gifts from years past can all be forms of residential waste. It's important to consider every new purchase carefully, because almost everything we buy will become waste someday. 

To reduce waste at home, ask yourself the following questions before making a purchase: