Let’s Talk Trash me
LET’S TALK TRASH
A glossary of waste collection terms
If you really want to talk trash, you have to know the lingo. Here are some commonly used terms used in the waste collection industry.
BULK ITEMS:
Those items of furniture, such as sofas, chairs, tables, carpets and other large items, which cannot reasonably be placed in a 95-gallon rollout cart.
CONSTRUCTION & DEMOLITION MATERIALS:
Waste materials generated by the construction, remodeling, repair or demolition of residential, commercial or other structures.
COMMERCIAL SOLID WASTE:
All garbage, rubbish and other acceptable waste generated by a commercial premises and all C and D materials, excluding hazardous waste.
COMPOSTING:
The process of making a heap of wetted organic matter (leaves, “green” food waste) and waiting for the materials to break down into humus after a period of weeks or months. Compost can be rich in nutrients and can be used for landscaping, horticulture, and agriculture.
E-WASTE (ELECTRONIC WASTE):
Discarded electrical or electronic devices such as computers, cell phones, TVs, etc.
GARBAGE:
Solid waste consisting of putrescible animal and vegetable waste materials resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food, including waste materials from markets, storage facilities, handling and sale of produce and other farm products.
HAZARDOUS WASTE:
Any solid waste identified or listed as a hazardous waste by any state agency or the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to the federal Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 72 U.S.C. 6901 et seq., as amended, including future amendments thereto.
RECYCLABLE MATERIALS:
Materials generated by residential premises, consisting of newspapers, aluminum and bimetal cans, HDPE plastic milk jugs, and PET plastic soft drink containers, which are stored in recycling bins and placed curbside for collection.
RESIDENTIAL SOLID WASTE:
All garbage and rubbish generated by a residential premises, excluding automobile parts, tires, c and d materials, yard waste, white goods, hazardous waste, or other unacceptable materials.
RUBBISH:
Non-putrescible solid waste consisting of paper, rags, cardboard, cartons, wood, rubber, plastics, glass, crockery, metal cans or other such waste.
SOLID WASTE DROPOFF SITE/CONVENIENCE CENTER:
County-designated area containing front load containers, commonly called dumpsters or green boxes, for collection of residential solid waste deposited by residents into containers.
SPECIAL WASTE:
Waste requiring profiling, customized handling, heightened safety measures and/or unique disposal practices. Examples include non-hazardous sludge materials, contaminated soils, ash and biosolids.
WHITE GOODS:
Refrigerators, ranges, washers, water heaters and other similar domestic appliances
YARD TRASH:
Leaves, brush, grass clippings, shrub and tree prunings, and other vegetative materials from the maintenance of yards, lawns and landscaping at residential premises.