Waste Hierarchy

                               The Waste Hierarchy diagram

Despite its continued evolution over the past decades, the ‘Waste Hierarchy’ is still a cornerstone in The RVCs waste strategy. It details the priorities in managing waste, with the importance of preventing the generation in the first place. If waste is avoided in the first place then there is no need to look at recycling or disposal options.

In real terms this can be seen in operation across the RVC:

·         Prevention sets out to eliminate waste produced, e.g. by the “please consider the environment before printing” campaign.

·         Minimisation sets out cut down waste produced, e.g. buy promoting double sided printing.

·         Reuse sets out to ensure waste produced is used exchanged, stopping the need for recycling or disposal; e.g. through the bike exchange program run by the students union.

·         Recycling sets out to ensure unavoidable waste does not end up in landfill; e.g. through paper recycling scheme run over the whole RVC.