Final answer:
Reducing waste is a proactive measure that helps prevent pollution, saves energy and money, and lessens the environmental impact before problems escalate.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reducing, which is the first step in recycling, is considered proactive. This is because it involves taking anticipatory action to minimize waste and resource use before it becomes a larger problem. Reducing waste includes strategies like purchasing less, choosing products with minimal packaging, and opting for items that have a longer lifespan.
Benefits of this approach include the prevention of pollution by reducing the need to harvest new raw materials, saving energy, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, supporting environmental sustainability for future generations, saving money, and minimizing the volume of waste needing to be recycled or sent to landfills and incinerators. Reductions of pollution are often more economically achievable by businesses utilizing the most cost-effective methods available.