What is a sustainable practice regarding waste management?

Promoting recycling and composting is a sustainable practice regarding waste management because it encourages the efficient use of resources and minimizes the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. Recycling helps to reprocess materials such as paper, glass, and metals, allowing them to be used again instead of extracting new raw materials, which can be environmentally detrimental. Composting, on the other hand, involves breaking down organic waste into nutrient-rich soil amendments, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and minimizing methane production from organic waste in landfills.

By embracing these practices, communities can significantly lower their waste footprint and contribute to a circular economy, where materials are kept in use for as long as possible. This contrasts with other strategies that may contribute to environmental degradation or inefficiency in waste management. For instance, increasing landfill capacity extends the life of landfills but does not address the root issues of waste generation. Encouraging single-use plastics exacerbates waste problems and pollution, while dumping waste in natural bodies of water can harm ecosystems and public health. Thus, promoting recycling and composting reflects a holistic approach that aligns with sustainability principles by reducing waste and conserving resources.