Waste reduction is one of the most
important objectives of
solid waste management, more important than
recyling or reusing. This idea is to reduce packaging (mainly
plasitics and
carboard),
size. amd
weight of the product. This reduces the waste that results from the use of the
product.
For example, a typical
juice box is packaged together with other boxes, using
plastic and cardboard. The
actual box is made out of cardboard with a
plastic outside and
aluminum on the inside. There is also plastic used with the
straw and the straw cover. All these materials are
wastes.
Plastic is the most
problematic since the production of plastics releases many
toxic materials and
plastics is the least
degradable of any material.