Waste minimization towards waste management and cleaner production strategies: a literature review

Waste management is a crucial issue for maintaining the environment and caring for people's health. Since a wide array of people and communities are exposed to dangers from exceeding the production and growth rate of waste, the efficiency of waste management benefits everyone. This measure requires logical and precise planning. The primary aim of this paper is to categorize waste generation management to preserve the well-being of public health, the environment, and environmental resources. Waste management with the cooperation and collective efforts of citizens, businesses, industries, and government, can continue to enhance materials' reuse, recycling the whole solid wastes resources. Reducing the excess production of materials is the primary goal of this project. It has been proved that prevention is better than remedy in most cases, thereby proposing green production as an answer. Green production, alongside cleaner production, is seeking prevention innovations, protecting the environment by analysing the flow of materials and energy throughout the manufacturing process. In this regard, this study reviews and summarizes the related research to identify proper options for minimizing the waste materials, energy, and emissions from industrial processes, through strategies for the optimal utilization and application of resources. The reviewed papers are classified into oversees the prerequisite steps for management strategies before and after waste generation. Finally, research gaps have been reported to identify areas for future study. The obtained results showed that in approaching waste, more studied materials are dedicated to waste management but not to prevention or waste minimization before its inception. Furthermore, the best manners in waste management to protect the environment are prioritized, respectively, at first prevention, secondly waste minimization, thereafter recycling the manufactured wastes to hasten the delivery to the landfills and lessen the amount of transportation.