Waste Hierarchy
What is the Waste Hierarchy?
The ‘Waste Hierarchy’ prioritises waste management methods based on their environmental impact. The highest priority is given to preventing waste altogether. If waste is generated, the hierarchy prioritises preparing it for reuse, followed by recycling, recovery, and, as a last resort, disposal (e.g landfill).
Every Waste Transfer Note now requires a signed declaration confirming compliance with the waste hierarchy, as mandated by Regulation 12 of the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011.
When disposing of WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment), organisations must take all reasonable measures to prevent waste and follow the hierarchy’s priority order, when transferring waste to another party.
A significant portion of WEEE that is disposed of still has functional life remaining. To maximize value, it is considered best practice to use equipment for as long as possible before replacing it.
How can I adhere to it?
As a waste producer, it is your duty to minimise the waste you generate. Before passing it on to us for recycling, consider whether it can still be of any use. At Zero Tech Waste, we are here to help: we can provide guidance on reducing your WEEE output.
How do you follow it?
We prioritise reuse for everything we collect. Items deemed unsuitable for reuse are sent to Approved Authorised Treatment Facilities (AATFs), where they are dismantled into core components such as metal, plastic, cables, and PCBs for recycling. Materials that cannot be recycled after processing are typically repurposed for energy recovery, particularly non-hazardous mixed plastics. As a result of this thorough process, nothing ends up in landfill.