Waste is an over use of services, or other practices that lead to unnecessary costs. Waste is not caused by criminal actions. It is caused by the misuse of resources.

Example of Waste

Rachel’s doctor often prescribes an expensive medication for her instead of the less expensive medicine on the drug list.

This is an example of waste because the doctor is prescribing a brand-name medicine rather than the generic medicine. This is waste because there is no medical reason to do so.