Waste reduction and reuse
Waste reduction and reuse of products are both methods of waste prevention. They
eliminate the production of waste at the source of usual generation and reduce the
demands for large scale treatment and disposal facilities. Methods of waste reduction
include manufacturing products with less packaging, encouraging customers to bring
their own reusable bags for packaging, encouraging the public to choose reusable
products such as cloth napkins and reusable plastic and glass containers, backyard
composting and sharing and donating any unwanted items rather than discarding them.
All of the methods of waste prevention mentioned require public participation. In order to
get the public onboard, training and educational programmes need to be undertaken to
educate the public about their role in the process. Also the government may need to
regulate the types and amount of packaging used by manufacturers and make the reuse of
shopping bags mandatory.