Any unwanted or discarded material that is not a liquid or a gas produced in the normal course of human activities is called solid waste or refuse. Some common types of solid waste are:· Garbage (food waste)
· Rubbish (paper, plastics, wood, metals, throw away container, glass)
· Demolition products ( bricks, masonry, pipes, gravel, sand)
· Sewage (sludge and solid from the coarse screening)
· Dead animals
· Manure and other discarded material
Classification of waste based on decomposability
Decomposable
Decomposable refuse component generally includes organic material of human or animal origin, e.g. discarded food items, vegetables peelings, cow dung and dead animals etc. Decomposable refuse deteriorates with time giving off foul odour. Rotten waste can be good habitat for pathogens, so If not disposed in time, it can be hazardous for human health.
Non-decomposable
Non-decomposable refuse includes plastic, metal, stones, sands, wood, bricks, glass, throw away containers etc. Non-decomposable refuse have a tendency to get scattered and thereby spread filthiness, all around.
Classification of Solid Waste based on hazard
Non-Hazardous Solid Waste
The waste which does not pose significant risk on human health and environment are termed as non-hazardous solid wastes. “Any garbage, refuse, sludge from a waste treatment plant, water supply treatment plant or air pollution control facility and other discarded material, including solid, liquid, semisolid, or contained gaseous material resulting from industrial, commercial, mining and agricultural operations and from community activities” are non-hazardous solid waste
Hazardous Waste
The waste which cause or contribute potential to serious hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of or otherwise managed are called hazardous solid waste. Hazardous waste are by nature are
· Toxic
· Ignitable: catches fire easily (gasoline, paints, and solvents)
· Reactive: reactive or unstable enough to explode or release toxic fumes
· Corrosive: capable of corroding metal containers such as tanks, drums
Examples of Hazardous Waste
· Contains one or more of 39 identified compounds including Persistant Organic Pollutants (POPs: Aldrin, chlordane, DDT, Dieldrin, Endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, Mirex, Toxaphene, PCBs, and Polychlorinated Dioxins and polychlorinated furans)
· Radioactive waste
· Mining wastes
· Oil and gas drilling wastes
· Liquids containing organic hydrocarbons
· Cement kiln dust
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