Solid Waste Management
Solid waste refers to the range of garbage materials—arising from animal and human activities—that are discarded as unwanted and useless.
Solid waste is generated from industrial, residential, and commercial activities in a given area, and may be handled in a variety of ways.
Solid waste is generated from industrial, residential, and commercial activities in a given area, and may be handled in a variety of ways.
Waste can be categorized based on material, such as plastic, paper, glass, metal, and organic waste. Categorization may also be based on hazard potential, including radioactive, flammable, infectious, toxic, or non-toxic wastes. Categories may also pertain to the origin of the waste, whether industrial, domestic, commercial, institutional, or construction and demolition.
Waste management
In modern homes and businesses, garbage is normally placed in waste containers of some sort. It is then moved to the street, where it can be collected and taken to a place designed to hold, destroy or recycle garbage. Some waste materials, such as paper, wood, glass, metals, and plastic containers, can be recycled (reused). Materials that can not be recycled are either burned (incinerated) or heaped into landfills.
Plant matter, such as fruit and vegetable scraps, is biodegradable. It can usually be heaped into a compost, where it will decompose relatively quickly. This kind of waste is often called “wet” or “green” waste.