The multibillion-dollar worldwide waste industry sells the promise that waste as a mixed commodity is fine and there is not need for segregation or segmental approaches. But paper, plastics, metal and food only become `waste’ after they are mixed, but remain recyclable materials if they are not.

Treating energy as the sole focus for waste treatment, is not only unsustainable from the point of energy economics, but also distorts waste management, since it does not automatically lead to waste minimization and sustainable waste behavior.