Jätesiirtymähierarkia

Jätesiirtymähierarkia, often translated as waste transition hierarchy or waste hierarchy, is a conceptual framework that prioritizes waste management strategies in order of their environmental impact. The primary goal is to minimize waste generation and maximize resource efficiency. At the top of the hierarchy is prevention, aiming to avoid waste creation in the first place through conscious consumption and product design. The next level is reuse, where items are utilized again for their original purpose. Following reuse is recycling, which involves processing waste materials into new products. Next is recovery, which includes methods like composting or anaerobic digestion to extract energy or nutrients from waste. Finally, at the bottom of the hierarchy is disposal, such as landfilling or incineration without energy recovery, considered the least desirable option due to its significant environmental consequences. The jätesiirtymähierarkia serves as a guiding principle for developing sustainable waste management policies and practices, encouraging a shift from linear "take-make-dispose" models to circular economy principles.