What is typically included in the process of 'recovery' in waste management?

In the context of waste management, 'recovery' refers to the process of extracting value from waste materials, thereby diverting them from disposal and promoting more sustainable practices. Generating energy from waste materials fits this definition accurately, as it involves converting non-recyclable waste into usable forms of energy, such as electricity or heat. This transformation not only reduces the environmental burden of waste but also contributes to energy production, making it a key aspect of recovery efforts.

While composting organic materials can support waste management by recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem, it is typically classified as a form of recycling rather than recovery in a strict sense. Recycling plastics is another important waste management process where materials are reprocessed to make new products. However, like composting, it falls under recycling rather than directly generating new energy. Landfill expansion, on the other hand, does not contribute to the recovery process as it simply increases capacity for waste without extracting value or converting it into energy. Hence, generating energy from waste materials is recognized as a primary component of recovery in waste management practices.