Source Reduction

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-026200",
  "term": "Source Reduction",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. The design, manufacture, purchase, or use of materials (such as products and packaging) to reduce the amount or toxicity of garbage generated. Source reduction can help reduce waste disposal and handling charges because the costs of recycling, municipal composting, landfilling, and combustion are avoided. Source reduction conserves resources and reduces pollution.\n\n2. Refers to the design, manufacture, purchase, or use of materials, such as products and packaging, to reduce the amount or toxicity of materials before they enter the municipal solid waste management system, such as redesigning products or packaging to reduce the quantity of materials or the toxicity of the materials used; reusing products or packaging already manufactured; and lengthening the life of products to postpone disposal. Examples include donating food to food banks, diverting food scraps and yard trimmings through backyard (onsite) composting, and reusing plastic pallets. Also referred to as waste prevention. (U.S. EPA 1996b)\n\n3. The design, manufacture, purchase, or use of materials to reduce the amount or toxicity of waste. Because it is intended to reduce pollution and conserve resources, source reduction should not increase the net amount of toxicity of wastes generated throughout the life of the product. Source reduction techniques include reusing items, minimizing the use of products that contain hazardous compounds, using only what is needed, extending the useful life of a product, and reducing unneeded packaging.\n\n4. The design, manufacture, or use of products that in some way reduces the amount of waste that must be disposed of; examples include reuse of by-products, reducing consumption, extending the useful life of a product, and minimizing materials going into production.\n\n5. Source Reduction refers to any change in the design, manufacture, purchase, or use of materials or products (including packaging) to reduce their amount or toxicity before they become municipal solid waste. Source reduction also refers to the reuse of products or materials.\n\n6. Reducing the amount of materials entering the waste stream from a specific source by redesigning products or patterns of production or consumption (e.g., using returnable beverage containers). Synonymous with waste reduction.\n\n7. Maximizing or reducing the use of natural resources at the beginning of an industrial process, thereby eliminating the amount of waste produced by the process. Source reduction is EPA's preferred method of waste management.\n\n8. Any change in the design, manufacture, purchase, or use of materials or products that reduces or delays the amount or toxicity of material entering waste collection and disposal. These practices include lightweighting, double-sided copying, and material reuse. It is also possible to source reduce one type of material by substituting another material.\n\n9. Refers to any change in the design, manufacture, purchase, or use of materials or products (including packaging) to reduce their amount or toxicity before they become municipal solid waste. Source reduction also refers to the reuse of products or materials.\n\n10. Any practice that: (1) Reduces the amount of any hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant entering any waste stream or otherwise released into the environment (including fugitive emissions) prior to recycling, energy recovery, treatment, or disposal; and (2) Reduces the hazards to public health and the environment associated with the release of such substances, pollutants, or contaminants. It does not include any practice that alters the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics or the volume of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant through a process or activity that itself is not integral to and necessary for the production of a product or the providing of a service.",
  "subject": "Land, waste and cleanup",
  "references": [
    "Environmental Issues Terms & Acronyms; Pesticides Glossary",
    "Measuring Recycling Guidance Glossary",
    "Consumer Handbook for Reducing Solid Waste: Reusable Vocabulary",
    "Superfund for Students and Teachers Glossary",
    "State and Local Climate and Energy Program Glossary of Terms",
    "Terms of Environment",
    "RCRA Orientation Manual 2008 Glossary; RCRA Orientation Manual",
    "Waste Reduction Model (WARM) Definitions and Acronyms",
    "State and Local Climate and Energy Glossary",
    "TRI Reporting Forms and Instructions"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/source-reduction/"
}