What does the term 'recover' entail in the waste management context?

The term 'recover' in the context of waste management refers to the process of utilizing discarded materials to generate energy. This approach emphasizes the active recovery of resources from waste, transforming what would otherwise be discarded into useful forms of energy, such as electricity, heat, or fuel. This is aligned with broader sustainability goals, as it reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and lowers reliance on fossil fuels.

While recycling plastics is a crucial component of waste management, it is more specifically classified under 'recycling' rather than 'recover.' Sending waste to landfills does not involve any recovery of materials and represents a less sustainable option. Similarly, burning waste without generating energy does not contribute to the recovery of resources, as it merely eliminates waste rather than repurposing it for energy use. Thus, focusing on energy generation from discarded materials effectively embodies the principle of recovery in waste management.