Zero waste is a philosophy that aims to redesign resource life cycles so that all products are reused and nothing is sent to landfills or incinerators. It involves avoiding waste, reusing items, and recycling materials. Many cities and countries have adopted zero waste plans and policies to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and encourage recycling. Common elements of zero waste plans include separate bins for different types of waste, composting of organic waste, and recycling programs.