CONTEMPORARY URBAN ENVIRONMENTS: Urban Waste

Different types of waste:

Domestic (residential) waste: generated as a consequence of household activities. This waste is catergorised as biodegradable, recyclable or inert.

Municipal waste results from municipal activites and services such as street cleaning including dead animals, market wastes and abandoned vehicles. This term is applied in a wider sense to include solid domestic and commercial wastes.

Commerical waste comes from offices, wholesale and retail sotres, restaurants, hotels, markets etc. This waste is classed as biodegradable, recyclable or inert.

Animal and vegetable waste resulting from the handling, storage, sale, cooking and serving of food. This waste quickly becomes putrid, producing strong smells and atracting vermin.

Institutional waste from institutions such as schools, universities, hospitals etc. Hospital waste is catergorised as risk or non-risk waste. 

Ashes are the residues of burning wood, coal, charcoal and other combustible materials. When produced in large quantities at power station plants and factories these wastes are classed as industrial wastes.

Bulky wastes include domestic furniture and white goods, commercial packaging and containers, industrial crates, pallets and metal banding. This waste requires special collection.

Street sweeping waste includes paper, cardboard, plastic, dirt, dust, leaves and other vegetable matter. The…