Waste hierarchy

Waste hierarchy

Waste hierarchy

The 2008 Waste Framework Directive sets the overarching legislative framework. It defines the main concepts linked to waste management, including the ‘polluter pays principle’ (ensuring that the costs of preventing, controlling and cleaning up pollution are reflected in the cost of goods), the ‘waste hierarchy’ (a priority order set among waste prevention and management options, pictured in Figure 3) and the ‘end-of-waste status’ (i.e. when waste ceases to be waste after recovery).


Related Articles