Which practice reduces hazardous waste by substituting hazardous materials with safer alternatives?

Which practice reduces hazardous waste by substituting hazardous materials with safer alternatives?

• A. Substitution
• B. Recycling
• C. Reuse
• D. Disposal

Answer: (A)

Substitution is about replacing a hazardous material with a safer alternative in the process. By choosing less toxic chemicals or safer methods from the start, the amount of hazardous waste generated is reduced at the source, which is the most effective way to minimize hazard. For example, using a nonhazardous or less toxic solvent instead of a traditional hazardous one lowers waste creation up front. Recycling, reuse, and disposal deal with waste after it’s produced: recycling reprocesses waste into new materials, reuse extends the life of items, and disposal removes waste. They don’t prevent the initial formation of hazardous waste the way substitution does.

Substitution is about replacing a hazardous material with a safer alternative in the process. By choosing less toxic chemicals or safer methods from the start, the amount of hazardous waste generated is reduced at the source, which is the most effective way to minimize hazard. For example, using a nonhazardous or less toxic solvent instead of a traditional hazardous one lowers waste creation up front. Recycling, reuse, and disposal deal with waste after it’s produced: recycling reprocesses waste into new materials, reuse extends the life of items, and disposal removes waste. They don’t prevent the initial formation of hazardous waste the way substitution does.