Waste hierarchy

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/waste-hierarchy

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the waste hierarchy and why is it called a pyramid?The waste hierarchy is a guide that shows the best ways to handle trash, from preventing it at the top to disposing of it at the bottom. It looks like a pyramid because the most helpful actions are at the top and the least helpful at the bottom.
2. What does "prevention" mean in the waste hierarchy?Prevention means stopping waste from being made in the first place. It can be done by making products that last longer or using less packaging.

Waste Hierarchy: A framework ranking waste management options from prevention and reuse to recycling, recovery, and disposal.
Circular Economy: An economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources.
Resource Efficiency: Using resources in a way that minimizes waste and maximizes their value throughout their lifecycle.