Which term describes replacing hazardous materials with safer alternatives to reduce waste?

Which term describes replacing hazardous materials with safer alternatives to reduce waste?

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

Answer: (C)

Substitution means choosing a less hazardous material in place of a more dangerous one to cut waste at the source. This approach directly reduces the amount and toxicity of waste generated because the safer material creates fewer hazards in the first place, making handling, storage, and disposal easier and safer. For example, swapping a toxic solvent for a safer alternative limits the hazardous waste produced and lowers exposure risk. Recycling, incineration, and disposal address waste after it’s created in different ways: recycling reprocesses waste into new products, incineration burns waste to reduce volume, and disposal simply removes waste from use.

Substitution means choosing a less hazardous material in place of a more dangerous one to cut waste at the source. This approach directly reduces the amount and toxicity of waste generated because the safer material creates fewer hazards in the first place, making handling, storage, and disposal easier and safer. For example, swapping a toxic solvent for a safer alternative limits the hazardous waste produced and lowers exposure risk. Recycling, incineration, and disposal address waste after it’s created in different ways: recycling reprocesses waste into new products, incineration burns waste to reduce volume, and disposal simply removes waste from use.