Solid waste is composed of a broad array of materials discarded by households, businesses, industries and agriculture. It includes all the heterogeneous mass of throw-away from residential and commercial activities as well as the more homogeneous accumulations of a single industrial activity.
Types of solid wastes
1. Garbage. Designates putrescible (easily decomposable) wastes resulting from handling, preparation, cooking, and serving of food
2. Rubbish. It includes all non-putrescible refuse except ash. There are two categories of rubbish-combustible and non-combustible.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
(а) Combustible. This material is primarily organic; it includes items such as paper, plastic, cardboard, wood, rubber, etc.
(б) Non-combustible. This material is primarily inorganic and includes tin cans metals, glass, ceramics, and other mineral refuse.
3. Ashes. Residue from fires used for cooking, heating, on-site incineration, etc.
4. Demolition and construction waste. Waste from construction, remodeling and repairing of commercial, residential and industrial buildings. It includes dust, stone, concrete, bricks, plaster, etc.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
5. Special wastes. Wastes such as street sweepings, roadside litter, catch basin debris, dead animals and abandoned vehicles are classified as special wastes.
6. Treatment plant wastes. The solids from coarse screening and from grit chambers
7. Biomedical wastes. Wastes resulting directly from diagnosis, treatment, immunization or research activities
(a) Medical wastes. These wastes are usually produced in patient rooms, treatment rooms and nursing rooms.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
(b) Laboratory wastes. These wastes are produced in diagnostic or research laboratories and include cultures, dead animals, etc.
Municipal solid waste (MSW)
Municipal solid waste comprises small moderately sized solid waste items from residential areas, commercial buildings and institutions. For the most part, this waste is picked up by general collection trucks or typical compactor trucks, on regular routes.