What is the hierarchy of waste according to the EPA?

The hierarchy of waste according to the EPA prioritizes waste management strategies based on their environmental impact. It ranks the options from most to least favorable: source reduction (preventing waste generation), reuse (using items multiple times), recycling and composting (processing materials to create new products), energy recovery (converting waste into usable energy), and disposal (landfilling or incineration). This framework encourages sustainable practices by promoting methods that minimize waste and resource consumption.