<P> The aim of the waste hierarchy is to extract the maximum practical benefits from products and to generate the minimum amount of waste . The proper application of the waste hierarchy can have several benefits . It can help prevent emissions of greenhouse gases, reduces pollutants, save energy, conserves resources, create jobs and stimulate the development of green technologies . </P> <P> All products and services have environmental impacts, from the extraction of raw materials for production to manufacture, distribution, use and disposal . Following the waste hierarchy will generally lead to the most resource - efficient and environmentally sound choice but in some cases refining decisions within the hierarchy or departing from it can lead to better environmental outcomes . </P> <P> Life cycle thinking and assessment can be used to support decision - making in the area of waste management and to identify the best environmental options . It can help policy makers understand the benefits and trade - offs they have to face when making decisions on waste management strategies . Life - cycle assessment provides an approach to ensure that the best outcome for the environment can be identified and put in place . It involves looking at all stages of a product's life to find where improvements can be made to reduce environmental impacts and improve the use or reuse of resources . A key goal is to avoid actions that shift negative impacts from one stage to another . Life cycle thinking can be applied to the five stages of the waste management hierarchy . </P> <P> For example, life - cycle analysis has shown that it is often better for the environment to replace an old washing machine, despite the waste generated, than to continue to use an older machine which is less energy - efficient . This is because a washing machine's greatest environmental impact is during its use phase . Buying an energy - efficient machine and using low - temperature detergent reduce environmental impacts . </P>

In waste hierarchy what is the meaning of reduce reuse and recycle
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