3 March 2015 Guide

Household Waste Prevention Hub: What is waste prevention?

Waste prevention defined, as seen in the Waste Framework Directive.

Waste ‘prevention’ is defined in the Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC) as measures taken before a substance, material or product has become waste, that reduce:

(a) the quantity of waste, including through the re-use of products or the extension of the life span of products;

(b) the adverse impacts of the generated waste on the environment and human health;

(c) the content of harmful substances in materials and products.

Re-use’ means “any operation by which products or components that are not waste are used again for the same purpose for which they were conceived.”

Preparing for re-use’ means checking, cleaning or repairing for recovery operations, by which products or components of products that have become waste are prepared so that they can be re-used without any other pre-processing.