The Waste Hierarchy: A Practical Guide for Businesses

Better waste decisions start before the bin

The waste hierarchy helps businesses decide what should happen to materials they no longer need. It places prevention first, followed by preparing for reuse, recycling, other recovery and disposal.

Use it to guide purchasing, storage, housekeeping, collection layouts and supplier conversations. Keep transfer information and collection records organised, use appropriate containers, and work with a provider that can explain the intended treatment route.

The five stages of the waste hierarchy

1. Prevention

   Avoid creating waste in the first place by improving purchasing, storage and day-to-day processes.

   What businesses can do

   • Remove unnecessary packaging and single-use items from regular orders.
   • Set stock controls so products do not expire or become damaged.
   • Ask suppliers about returnable packaging, take-back schemes and bulk deliveries.
   • Track the largest waste streams and set a practical reduction target.

2. Preparing for Reuse

   Keep products and materials in use through repair, redeployment, return or donation.

   What businesses can do

   • Create a labelled holding area for reusable furniture, equipment, pallets and packaging.
   • Build repair, redeployment and donation into office moves and fit-outs.
   • Use returnable crates and still-serviceable packaging where practical.
   • Record reused items for internal sustainability reporting.

3. Recycling

   Separate suitable materials so they can be processed into new raw materials.

   What businesses can do

   • Place the correct container beside the point where waste is produced.
   • Use clear signs and brief teams on contamination.
   • Separate cardboard, food, confidential, electrical and hazardous waste appropriately.
   • Review accepted materials and collection arrangements when volumes change.

4. Other Recovery

   Recover energy or other useful value when prevention, reuse and recycling are not practical.

   What businesses can do

   • Keep recovery as the next option rather than mixing all materials together.
   • Ask the waste provider to explain the intended treatment route.
   • Review reports showing recycling, recovery and disposal performance.
   • Use the findings to move suitable materials higher up the hierarchy.

5. Disposal

   Use disposal only as a last resort for material that cannot reasonably follow a better route.

   What businesses can do

   • Keep disposal separate from recyclable materials.
   • Record why the material cannot move higher up the hierarchy.
   • Keep waste transfer information and collection records organised.
   • Identify one product, supplier, container or process to improve before the next review.

Keep on top of your business waste

Nominate someone to own the waste process, brief the people using each container, review waste streams regularly, and keep waste transfer notes and supplier details easy to find.

Download GRIDCO's simpler recycling guide

Get a free, printable three-page PDF showing how to separate paper, dry containers, food and residual waste, avoid contamination charges and track recycling figures. The download form asks for your name and email so GRIDCO can record your request and send a notification. Company is optional. We do not use these details for unsolicited marketing.

Open this page in a browser to use the download form. Read our Privacy Policy for how we handle your details.

Share the recycling guide

Send this link to anyone who would benefit from the free PDF: GRIDCO's simpler guide to recycling. The download form collects their details and notifies GRIDCO.

Share on LinkedIn · Share on Facebook

Get help with your waste collections

GRIDCO can help review your collections, containers and practical next steps across the North East.

Get a waste management quote