ecorec promotes waste management according to the waste management hierarchy to ensure that waste shall not be used in cement kilns if better ecological and economical ways of recovery are available.
The waste management hierarchy is defined as follows: 
• Avoidance & Minimization
Avoidance of waste is the ideal solution. This can be achieved only through a strict product policy that ensures that certain materials do not appear as residues at all. Minimization or reduction of waste is achieved in particular by the application of cleaner production concept or changes in consumer habits related to packaging.
• Reuse & Recycling
Recovery of waste materials by means of direct recycling and reuse of primary materials (e.g. metal to metal or paper to paper). It also includes other technologies like composting or anaerobic digestion.
• Co-processing
Recovery of energy and materials from waste as a substitute for fossil energy and virgin raw materials.
ecorec provides co-processing in the cement producing industry as the optimum way of recovering energy and material from waste. The main objective is not the final disposal of waste, but rather the substitution of primary fuel and raw material with waste.
• Incineration
Incineration is primarily a disposal technology to reduce waste volumes, to reduce the potential nega¬tive impact of the waste material and to a certain extent recover energy.
• Landfilling
Landfilling is a common method for the final disposal of non-recyclable waste.
• Uncontrolled dumping and burning
Uncontrolled dumping and burning is often accompanied by open burning where these pose a major threat to natural resources and human health. This form of waste disposal should be avoided.
Waste management hierarchy
