Vocabulary

Composting

The controlled microbial decomposition of organic matter, such as food and yard wastes, in the presence of oxygen, into humus, a soil-like material. Humus can be used in vegetable and flower gardens, hedges, etc.

Demand-side waste management

You, through your purchasing decisions, communicate to manufacturers your desire to buy environmentally sound products packaged with the least waste, made from recycled and recyclable materials, and free from hazardous substances. Manufacturers change their production processes or materials to provide what consumers demand, and waste is managed before it is produced.

Household hazardous waste

Products containing potentially toxic substances that are used and disposed of by individuals rather than industrial consumers.

Incineration

The controlled burning of municipal solid waste to reduce waste volume and to produce energy.

Integrated waste management

The complementary use of a variety of waste management practices to handle municipal solid waste safely and effectively. An integrated waste management system includes source reduction, recycling, resource recovery through municipal waste composting or incineration, and landfilling.

Landfilling

In modern landfills, the disposal of solid waste in a series of compacted layers on land. Fill areas are carefully prepared to prevent nuisances or public health hazards and clay and/or synthetic liners are used to control water drainage. The waste is covered daily with a layer of soil.

Municipal solid waste (MSW)

Garbage, refuse, and other solid waste from residential, commercial, industrial and community activities that is gathered for collection. Agricultural wastes, mining wastes, sewage sludge, tires, lead acid batteries and used oil are not MSW.

Post Consumer

A finished material that would normally be discarded as a solid waste after having completed its life cycle as a consumer item.

Recycling

The process by which materials are collected and used as "raw" materials for new products. There are three steps in recycling:
1. Materials are source-separated and collected.
2. Materials are processed and manufactured into new products.
3. Consumers purchase the goods made with reprocessed materials.

Reuse

The use of a product more than once in the same form, either for the same purpose – such as refilling a soft-drink bottle at the bottling company – or for a different purpose – such as reusing an empty peanut butter jar as a container for leftover food.

Source separation

Separating recyclable materials such as paper, glass or metal from MSW before collection or drop-off.

Source reduction

Reducing the amount or toxicity of products or packaging so that less waste is generated. This can be done through design, manufacture, purchase or use of materials or products, including packaging.

Virgin materials

Resources extracted from nature in their raw form, such as timber or metal ore.

Yard waste

Organic refuse such as grass clippings, leaves, tree waste, weeds, prunings, shrubs and other garden waste.